65
Hemispherical
Mercuric Iodide Detector--Constellation
Technology Corporation, 7887 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 100, Largo, FL
33777; 727-547-0600
Dr.
Ray Devito, Principal Investigator, devitor@contech.com
Mr.
David Oltman, Business Official, oltmand@contech.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-01ER83168
Amount:
$99,832
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.