Advancements in High-Resolution Detector Development for High Energy Instrumentation for Space Telescopes

Abstract

This paper presents advancements in Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CdZnTe) detector technology utilizing the Drift Strip Method (DSM). The DSM encapsulates a specific strip electrode design together with associated pulse shape analysis procedures, enabling high-resolution spectroscopy and 3D position sensitivity achievable from CdZnTe detectors. We demonstrate how this technology has evolved from early proof-of-concept studies to sophisticated 3D position-sensitive detectors with sub-millimeter spatial resolution and excellent spectral performance. The paper highlights key developments in electrode geometry, signal processing techniques, and applications in fields ranging from astrophysics to medical imaging. Performance evaluations of large-area 3D CdZnTe drift strip detectors show energy resolutions approaching the Fano-limited values, with demonstrated capabilities for particle discrimination and Compton camera applications.