Method for detecting radiation

摘要

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.