Radiation detector for detecting low-intensity radiation by means of avalanche amplification

US7847230B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften e.V. · US

Inventors

• Gerhard Lutz · Munich, DE
• Lothar Strueder · Munich, DE
• Peter Holl · Tübingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 17, 2006
• Grant date: Dec 7, 2010
• Expiry date: Jun 4, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H10F39/151

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiation detector (1) for detecting low-intensity radiation, especially for detecting individual photons. The radiation detector includes a plurality of rows of image cells (5) with respective pluralities of image cells (5) disposed one after the other and respective signal outputs (6). The radiation to be detected generates signal charge carriers in the individual image cells (5), the charge carriers being transported along the rows of image cells to the respective signal output (6). A plurality of output amplifiers (7) are connected in parallel to one of the signal outputs each of the individual image cell columns and amplify the signal charge carriers. The invention is characterized in that the output amplifiers (7) include respective avalanche amplifiers (8).