Silicon Detectors with 40 Ao Entrance Window for Low Energy Ions and Neutral Particles

41302 November 19, 1996 International Radiation Detectors, Inc. This project will design state-of-the-art silicon photodiodes for use as particle detectors in plasma diagnostics. These devices will be very sensitive to low energy particles. Owing to their unique characteristics, the proposed devices are expected to have better than 1 keV energy resolution around room temperature. Phase I will fabricate these diodes and evaluate their response to 1 keV to 40 keV hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, argon and neon ions at Los Alamos National Laboratory. If the developed diodes are found to be useful as expected, the Phase II effort will fabricate these devices with an integrated front end amplifier for higher energy resolution. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The diodes should be extremely useful for detection of low energy ions and neutrals from fusion reactions and also from solar wind. They should also be useful for analysis and identification of radioactive species for nuclear facility safety monitoring and environmental remediation. Other applications include electron microscopy, spectroscopy and electron beam lithography.