Particle detectors based on direct conversion at the surface of a dense medium

Abstract

Particle detectors, including gamma ray detectors and neutron detectors, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the detectors to detect particle radiation. The particle detectors use a layer of a particle conversion material to convert incident particles directly into primary electrons or other non-photon particles, such as alpha particles, protons, tritons, gamma rays, or fission products, without the use of a scintillator. The primary electrons and other non-photon particles generate secondary electrons in a secondary electron emission material, and these secondary electrons undergo amplification to generate a secondary electron shower that can be converted into an electronic signal by one or more anodes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.