Structured detectors and detector systems for radiation imaging

A radiation detector module comprising:

• a detector element configured to generate optical and/or electronic and acoustic signals in response to incident radiation passing through a sample;
• a readout coupled to at least a first surface of the detector element, the readout configured to convert the optical and/or electronic and acoustic signals into output characterizing the radiation;
• and
• an acoustic array or acoustic sensor comprising an acoustic transceiver element coupled to at least a second surface of the detector element and acoustically coupled to the sample, wherein the acoustic array or acoustic transceiver element is configured to convert the acoustic signals generated in the detector element into output characterizing acoustic energy deposited therein by the incident radiation.

An imaging system comprising:

• one or more detector modules configured to interrogate a material sample by detecting ionizing radiation, each detector module including a detector element configured to generate optical and/or electronic signals in response to incident radiation,
• a readout coupled to at least a first surface of the detector element, the readout configured to convert the optical and/or electronic signals into output characterizing the radiation, and
• an acoustic array or acoustic sensor element coupled to at least a second surface of the detector element, the acoustic array or acoustic sensor element configured to convert acoustic signals generated in the detector element into output characterizing acoustic energy deposited therein;
• and further comprising active or passive encoding implemented with at least one of the detector modules or the material sample.