Novel Photodiode for Use in High Energy Physics

65832 In nuclear physics research, room temperature, solid-state detectors can provide excellent energy resolution for gamma-ray spectroscopy in a compact and low power package. However, large volume solid-state detectors continue to suffer from incomplete collection of holes, causing a degradation in energy resolution. Single charge carrier read-out techniques, such as hemispherical detectors, can reduce the effect of hole transport problems in solid state detectors. This project will extend the hemispherical configuration to mercuric iodide detectors. The high density, high atomic number and large band gap of mercuric iodide makes it an excellent detector for room temperature photon spectrometry. Phase I will fabricate a prototype mercuric iodide detector that will approximate a hemispherical structure. Feasibility will be established by a detailed examination of performance parameters through a range of incident photon energies. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: Improving energy resolution while allowing for larger volume detectors should not only benefit gamma-ray spectroscopy research market, it also should be useful in industrial monitoring, nuclear non-proliferation monitoring activities, and other radiation monitoring markets.