X-ray detector suited for high energy applications with wide dynamic range, high stopping power and good protection for opto-electronic transducers

摘要

An x-ray detector includes a solid scintillating crystal of cadmium tungstate or bismuth germanate; the crystal is mounted in an x-radiation field and includes a first region directly exposed to the x-radiation. A protective shield is arranged adjacent the crystal so as to protect a region in space from direct exposure to x-radiation. The crystal includes a second component which is located in the protected region of space and is thus not exposed to direct x-radiation. Located in contact with opposing faces of the crystal are two pairs of photodiodes, the photodiodes themselves as well as the crystal faces with which they are in contact lie in the protected region in space and therefore are not exposed to direct x-radiation. The photodiodes themselves are also protected from scattered x-radiation by the protected component of the crystal. One pair of photodiodes has equal active areas, which is however different from the active areas of the other pair of photodiodes. All the photodiodes have anode and cathode leads, and corresponding leads for the diodes in each pair are connected together.