Radiation Detection Using the Parallel Channel Electron Multiplier

Abstract

The performance of a windowless continuous channel electron multiplier which utilizes a strip of semiconductor material (Si) for detection of some kind of radiation (a, β, γ) is described. The principle of the detector operation is the cascade reflection of the secondary electron multiplication between the two continuous silicon resistance strips.
The silicon strips of the dynode obtained the resistivity of 10⁶-10⁷Ω/cm by reactor irradiation. A current gain of 10⁹ can be realized with the detector for an overall voltage of approximately 3kV.
The background counting rate of the detector, at room temperature and in typical operation, is less than 1 count/hr for the pulses whose voltage height is over 0.5 mV across the load resistance.