Radioactive beam experiments with large gamma-ray detector arrays

High-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy is one of the most powerful and versatile experimental techniques in low-energy nuclear physics research. With the continuing development of hyper-pure germanium (HPGe) detector technology, including multi-crystal detectors, contact segmentation, and digital signal processing techniques, large gamma-ray detector arrays will continue to play a major role in the experimental programs at existing and future radioactive ion beam facilities. This paper provides an overview of recent progress in, and future plans for, the development of large gamma-ray spectrometers at such facilities, including the recent commissioning of the 8pi spectrometer at ISAC-I and the proposed TRIUMF-ISAC gamma-ray escape suppressed spectrometer array for the ISAC-II facility. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.