High Quantum Efficiency Fast Detectors for Readout of Scintillators for Gamma Ray Detection

High quantum efficiency (QE), fast (<20 nsec.) silicon APD detector will be optimized for the blue (e.g., 340-400 nm) optical radiation emitted by scintillators under gamma irradiation. The APDs have been designed to be highly manufacturable, with low dark count rates, high uniformity, nanosecond-scale temporal response. In Phase I, through a set of orthogonal designed experiments, the silicon APD array will be optimized for both the performance specifications required of gamma cameras as well as for high manufacturing yields. Candidate devices will be coupled with existing 2.5 GHz, low noise (20 e- rms) amplifiers, and the characteristics of the device, with and without coupling to LaBr3, will be measured. In Phase II, we will perform full reliability testing on the devices, and a fully functional high-performance gamma camera will be manufactured and its performance verified.