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For Coulomb excitation experiments using a γ-ray detector array, a position-sensitive particle detector system that has a good angular resolution, capability of managing a high-counting rate, robustness for a radiation damage, compactness (under 110 mm &fgr;) and easiness of handling is necessary. For this purpose we developed a new device utilizing plastic and yttrium aluminum perovskite activated by cerium (formula YAlO[sub 3]:Ce abbreviated YAP Ce) scintillators and a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. The detector system could operate at a high-counting rate (about 10[sup 5]), and with a good position resolution of 0.5–1.2 mm, which was enough for Doppler correction of the γ rays. It could sustain the radiation damage caused by Coulomb excitation experiments with heavy ions for more than 50 days. The detector chamber was well fitted in the 110 mm &fgr; diameter of the internal space of a compact γ-ray detector array, GEMINI. This was much easier to handle than the position-sensitive gas counter. In Coulomb excitation experiment utilizing this device, the nucleus [sup 74]Ge has been Coulomb excited using a Pb target. The transitional E2 matrix elements have been determined and the device has turned out to be useful in Coulomb excitation experiments with heavy-ion beams. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]