Abstract
In this paper, we report on the application of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique for the improvement of the γ-ray energy resolution of CdTe detectors. The PCA technique is used to estimate the amount of charge-trapping effect which is reflected in the shape of each detector pulse, thereby correcting for the charge-trapping effect. The details of the method are described and the results obtained with a CdTe detector are shown. We have achieved an energy resolution of 1.8 % (FWHM) at 662 keV with full detection efficiency from a 1 mm thick CdTe detector which gives an energy resolution of 4.5 % (FWHM) by using the standard pulse processing method.
•The Principle Component Analysis technique is applied to sampled pulses from a CdTe detector.•A strong correlation between the charge-trapping effect and the first principal component is demonstrated.•An energy resolution of 1.8% at 662 keV is achieved with a 1 mm thick CdTe detector.