390
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 2:
Line 2: + +
no edit summary
The standard technology for such detectors, originally developed for atomic and nuclear physics experiments, is based on the photomultiplier vacuum tube. Particle physics experiments have relied on photomultiplier tubes for over 40 years. Ever since the invention of the transistor, efforts have been made to create semiconductor-based photon detectors, but certain drawbacks have limited their use to a few niche applications. Recently, however, progress has been made toward the goal of creating silicon-based detectors with single-photon sensitivity that can operate at room temperature. These devices are called silicon photomultipliers.
The standard technology for such detectors, originally developed for atomic and nuclear physics experiments, is based on the photomultiplier vacuum tube. Particle physics experiments have relied on photomultiplier tubes for over 40 years. Ever since the invention of the transistor, efforts have been made to create semiconductor-based photon detectors, but certain drawbacks have limited their use to a few niche applications. Recently, however, progress has been made toward the goal of creating silicon-based detectors with single-photon sensitivity that can operate at room temperature. These devices are called silicon photomultipliers.
Silicon photomultipliers use semiconducting technology to detect single photons at room temperature. Semiconductors are solids that have a conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. (Electrical conductivity is the ability for a substance to move electrons from one area to another. It is primarily determind by the band gap of a substance. The band gap is the distance that an electron must travel before it goes into the conduction band. Smaller band gaps would equal a higher electrical conductivity)
(need a sentence that introduces the basic physics of how semiconductors can work as photon detectors.)
(need a sentence that introduces the basic physics of how semiconductors can work as photon detectors.)