Method for detecting radiation
OwnerAri Lehto, Hannu Harjunmaainventors
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Abstract
A method for detecting and measuring electromagnetic or particle radiation by electrical means has been provided. A piece of semiconductor material, such as phosphorus-doped silicon, fitted with at least two electrodes is used as the detector and the measurement is performed by exposing the detector to the radiation to be measured and by applying an electric field between the electrodes, which will cause an electric breakdown after a certain delay time. The length of this delay time preceding the breakdown is altered by radiation and the magnitude of the change is serving as a measure of the intensity of the radiation falling on the detector.
Claims6
In the method for detecting electromagnetic or particle radiation which comprises exposing a piece of semiconductor fitted with two or more electrodes to the radiation to be measured, applying an electric field between electrodes and observing the delay from the application of the electric field to the subsequent electric breakdown, the radiation-induced change in the delay serving as a measure of the intensity of the radiation to be measured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.