Response of large area avalanche photodiodes to low energy x rays
- Stop 8461, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (United States)
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 (United States)
- Stop 8410, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 (United States)
- Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973 (United States)
- RMD Inc., Watertown, Massachusetts 02472 (United States)
For an experiment to study neutron radiative beta-decay, we operated large area avalanche photodiodes (APDs) near liquid nitrogen temperature to detect x rays with energies between 0.2 keV and 20 keV. Whereas there are numerous reports of x ray spectrometry using APDs at energies above 1 keV, operation near liquid nitrogen temperature allowed us to reach a nominal threshold of 0.1 keV. However, due to the short penetration depth of x rays below 1 keV, the pulse height spectrum of the APD become complex. We studied the response using monochromatic x ray beams and employed phenomenological fits of the pulse height spectrum to model the measurement of a continuum spectrum from a synchrotron. In addition, the measured pulse height spectrum was modelled using a profile for the variation in efficiency of collection of photoelectrons with depth into the APD. The best results are obtained with the collection efficiency model.
- OSTI ID:
- 22072296
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 83, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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