skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Photon detector configured to employ the Gunn effect and method of use

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1172749

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to photon detectors configured to employ the Gunn effect for detecting high-energy photons (e.g., x-rays and gamma rays) and methods of use. In an embodiment, a photon detector for detecting high-energy photons is disclosed. The photon detector includes a p-i-n semiconductor diode having a p-type semiconductor region, an n-type semiconductor region, and a compensated i-region disposed between the p-type semiconductor region and the n-type semiconductor region. The compensated i-region and has a width of about 100 .mu.m to about 400 .mu.m and is configured to exhibit the Gunn effect when the p-i-n semiconductor diode is forward biased a sufficient amount. The compensated i-region is doped to include a free carrier concentration of less than about 10.sup.10 cm.sup.-3.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
8,981,312
Application Number:
14/023,348
OSTI ID:
1172749
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2013 Sep 10
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Bulk GaAs room temperature radiation detectors
  • McGregor, Douglas S.; Knoll, Glenn F.; Eisen, Yosef
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 322, Issue 3, p. 487-492 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(92)91219-Y
journal November 1992
Performance of semi-insulating GaAs-based radiation detectors: Role of key physical parameters of base materials
  • Dubecký, František; Ferrari, Claudio; Korytár, Dušan
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 576, Issue 1, p. 27-31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.01.114
journal June 2007
Ion implantation process for fabricating high frequency avalanche devices patent December 1977
Transferred electron device patent January 1990
Transferred electron effect device patent October 1997
Gunn diode, NRD guide Gunn oscillator, fabricating method of Gunn diode and structure for assembly of the same patent February 2003
Method and system for performance improvement of photodetectors and solar cells patent January 2004
Optoelectronic device with lateral pin or pin junction patent-application March 2012