Developments in GaAs pixel detectors for X-ray imaging

R Bates, M Campbell, C Da Via, E Heijne, M Heuken, H Jurgensen, J Ludwig, S Manolopoulos, D Marder, K Mathieson, V O'Shea, C Raine, M Rogalla, KM Smith

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution book

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Position sensitive hybrid pixel detectors have been fabricated by bump bonding silicon or bulk grown semi-insulating gallium arsenide pixel detectors to CMOS read-out chips. Their performance as X-ray Imaging sensors, in the energy range of 10-70 keV, was evaluated in terms of spatial resolution. For the GaAs device a fit was made to the line spread function (LSF) obtained from the image of a narrow slit and the corresponding modulation transfer function (MTF) and noise equivalent passband (N-e) evaluated. A value of 5.7 line pairs per mm (lp/mm) was found for the latter, with a modulation of 10% at the Nyquist frequency (N-y). A comparison is also given of the performance of these devices with state-of-the-art scintillator on silicon CCD dental X-ray sensors. In a bid to improve detector performance, thick layers of high quality GaAs have recently been grown by low pressure vapour phase epitaxy (LP-VPE). Hall measurements on initial samples gave free carrier concentration of 1-8 x 10(11) cm(-3). From the C-V dependence of a reverse-biased Schottky diode this material, however, a space charge density of 2 x 10(13) cm(-3) was measured. The observed temperature and frequency dependency of the capacitance is characteristic of the presence of deep levels and so the material is believed to have a small degree of compensation due to these levels. The measured charge collection efficiency determined (c.c.e) for 60 keV gamma rays showed an increase with reverse bias, reaching a plateau value of 93% for 100V. The limitations of present detectors are discussed and possible future developments indicated.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science: proceedings of the 44th IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference
EditorsO Nalcioglu
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherIEEE
Pages534-540
Number of pages7
Volume1&2
ISBN (Print)0780342593
Publication statusPublished - 1998
Event1997 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference - Albuquerque, United States
Duration: 9 Nov 199715 Nov 1997

Conference

Conference1997 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAlbuquerque
Period9/11/9715/11/97

Keywords

  • GaAs
  • pixel detectors
  • x-ray imaging
  • photonics
  • instrumentation

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