RADIATION MONITORING DEVICES, INC. — Department of Energy STTR Phase I: 13a

Description

The goal of the research is to provide pixelated diamond x-ray detectors with the required readout electronics for transmission imaging of hard and soft x-ray beams to facilitate the use of dynamic focusing at advanced light source facilities. This program investigates the use of polycrystalline diamond detectors and the associated readout electronics for x-ray imaging. The present technology, developed by Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratories, uses a pixelated single-crystal diamond detector connected to discrete readout electronics. While the performance of this technology is suitable for many imaging applications, the long lead times associated with electronic grade single-crystal diamonds constrains its use in commercial products, and the discrete readout electronics is not easily scaled to larger pixel counts associated with larger detector areas. The Phase-1 effort will define the anticipated performance specifications of polycrystalline diamond and present a preliminary design review for the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)- based readout electronics. At the end of the Phase-1, the design of the detector will be determined, the key components will be characterized, and a preliminary design review for the diamond detector and the ASIC-based readout electronics will be presented. The Phase 2 effort will develop a prototype imaging system. The development of the proposed product supports DOE facilities, such as BNL and the MaRIE accelerator at LANL; however, the commercial opportunity arises from the need to provide systems with an ASIC-based readout for multi-channel nuclear detectors that are used in imaging, handheld, and standoff detection of nuclear materials.