UV and blue-enhanced avalanche photodiodes for nuclear spectroscopy applications

Avalanche photodiodes of the bevel-edge type have been developed with improved blue and UV response. The detectors have been characterized for use in low-light level applications such as nuclear spectroscopy. An etching technique not used before in avalanche photodiodes has been used to obtain improved blue and UV response. Quantum efficiency up to 40% has been obtained above 200 nm. The gain and dark current are dependent on external voltage, and gains up to 400 are obtained at 1980 V without excess noise, and breakdown occurs at ∼2000 V. The detector exhibits low noise and fast response, necessary for use in nuclear spectroscopy systems. The energy resolution from a 57Co gamma-ray source was measured to be 942 eV (6.4 keV X-rays), which corresponds to 111 r.m.s. noise electrons at the input. We measured the energy resolution of the detector coupled with a 3×3×3 mm3 BGO scintillator from a 22Na gamma-ray source. The energy resolution at the 511 keV line was 12.5%, which is comparable to photomultiplier tubes coupled to a scintillator of the same size. The resolution with a 3×3×25 mm3 LSO scintillator was also measured, the energy resolution at 511 keV was 12.1%.