Electron backscattering for signal enhancement in a thin-film CdTe radiation detector
Abstract
Abstract Background Thin‐film cadmium telluride (CdTe) offers high average electron density, direct detection configuration, and excellent radiation hardness, making it an attractive material for radiation detectors. Although a very thin detector provides capabilities to conduct high‐resolution measurements in high‐energy radiation fields, it is limited by a low signal, often boosted with a front metal converter enhancing X‐ray absorption. An extension of this approach can be explored through the investigation of electron backscattering phenomenon, known to be highly dependent on the material atomic number Z. Adding an electron reflector in tandem with the back electrode is proposed to be utilized for the detector signal enhancement. Purpose We investigated the possibility of augmenting the fluence of electrons traversing CdTe thin film and thus increasing the detected signal pursuing two pathways: (1) adding a high‐Z metal layer to the back of the detector surface, and (2) adding a top low‐Z material to the detector layer to return its backscattered electrons. Copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) layers of varying thickness were investigated as potential metal back‐reflectors, whereas polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) water phantom material was tested as the top cover in multilayer detector structures. Methods The Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport package MCNP5 was first used to model a basic multilayer structure of a CdTe‐sensitive volume surrounded by PMMA, under a 6‐MV photon beam.…
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