Recent advances in avalanche photodiode technology

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:215621

Squillante, M R; Gordon, J S; Farrell, R; Vasile, S; Daley, K; Oakes, C; Vanderpuye, K ^[1]

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1. Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc., Watertown, MA (United States)

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are solid state devices having an internal signal gain which gives them a better signal-to-noise ratio than standard photodiodes. Also, their high quantum efficiency provides an advantage over photomultiplier tubes in some applications. Although they have been studied for years, recent advances in the fabrication techniques have allowed the construction of multielement arrays (up to 10 x 10) with high performance capability. This progress has resulted in increased potential for exploiting the advantages of APDs in a variety of research, industrial nondestructive testing, medical instrumentation, and biomedical research using low energy particles. For example, the direct detection of the distribution of tritium labeled, beta emitting compounds has been achieved. No other solid state detector is capable of doing this. Recent experimental data characterizing APDs and APD arrays used as x-ray, particle and low level light detectors are presented. In addition, their suitability in various applications is discussed.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-92ER81378
• OSTI ID: 215621
• Report Number(s): CONF-930722--; ISBN 0-8194-1258-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
PERFORMANCE
PHOTODIODES
RADIATION DETECTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
USES
X-RAY DETECTION