High speed imaging with diamond dynode detectors: a technological advance with major commercial applications

1.利用人造金刚石技术开发成像探测器并使其商业化，以大大提高性能。2.在许多学科中，需要检测快速信号是至关重要的。极高速、低振幅的光信号需要信号放大。光电倍增管（PMT）是第一个在真空管中使用电子信号放大的设备，用于光学光，并一直是主力探测器。尽管硅芯片已经取代真空管成为大多数成像应用中的首选技术，但与PMT等设备相比，它们的高速和灵敏度性能有限。该项目的目的是应用莱斯特空间研究中心通过空间科学研发开发的探测器技术和专门知识，以及布里斯托钻石集团最近在钻石化学方面的发展，一种成像光电倍增管的商业化，具有广泛的商业应用和国防部门的具体相关性的突破性性能，奥尔德马斯顿原子武器研究所的聚变等离子体诊断3.金刚石作为电子放大材料的优点a）高增益：金刚石是少数在正确处理时具有高电子增益的材料之一。B）简化的设计：Diamond可以具有每放大级更高的增益，从而导致对于给定增益所需的级数更少。c）增强的定时：金刚石的放大特性允许改进的信号定时和减少的背景。d）较低的增益可变性：金刚石的较高增益降低了增益的可变性。e）低噪音：金刚石不易受到热噪音的影响，因此可以在较低的噪音水平或较高的温度下工作。f）大面积：合成金刚石提供低成本，大面积涂层，易于在成型表面上生长。g）稳定性：人造金刚石具有长期稳定的性能。它的性能在暴露于空气后仍然很高。人造金刚石的电子增益特性有望极大地扩展光电倍增管在许多领域的应用。4.合成金刚石在探测器中的应用我们已经测量了合成金刚石的性能，我们的测量数据支持已发表的结果，并证明了合成金刚石作为探测器材料的潜在优势。该项目将从优化制造工艺开始，将技术从概念验证转移到原型。首先，我们将制造两个演示探测器，为工艺优化提供数据。该项目的下一阶段将是开发一个单一的透射增益级。- a）透射：输入电子通过金刚石薄膜的一个表面进入，并且输出电子通过另一个表面离开。B）反射：金刚石沉积在开放的导电丝网上。输入和输出电子通过同一金刚石表面进入和离开。传输技术是上级的，提供更好的检测器性能，但由于需要生产非常薄的薄膜，因此要求更高，但我们已经证明了生产。我们将研究这两种技术，并根据性能，可制造性，开发和制造成本以及开发时间表选择最佳技术。我们将首先展示一个单级透射增益级，以提供全面的设备诊断。该项目的最后阶段是设计、建造和演示一个探测器，该探测器使用一组具有快速响应和高增益的增益级，并具有成像能力。性能评估将包括与Aldermaston的AWE合作者进行测试，并在洛斯阿拉莫斯的激光聚变设施中进行现场试验，以及在Photek和SRC的光子计数模式下进行试验。

1. The purpose of the project Development and commercialization of imaging detectors using artificial diamond technology to provide greatly enhanced performance. 2. Introduction The need to detect fast signals is crucial in many disciplines. Very high speed, low amplitude light signals need signal amplification. The photomultiplier tube (PMT) was the first device to use electronic signal amplification in a vacuum tube for optical light and has been a workhorse detector since. Though silicon chips have replaced vacuum tubes as the technology of choice in most imaging applications they have limited high speed and sensitivity performance compared with devices such as the PMT. The aim of this project is to apply detector technology and know-how from the Space Research Centre (SRC), Leicester, developed through space science R & D, together with recent developments in diamond chemistry at the Diamond Group, Bristol, to the commercialization of an imaging PMT with ground-breaking performance for widespread commercial application and specific relevance to the defence sector / fusion plasma diagnostics at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston. 3. Advantages of Diamond as an electron amplification material a) High gain: Diamond is one of a small number of materials which has high electron gain when correctly treated. b) Simplified design: Diamond can have a higher gain per amplification stage, resulting in a lower number of stages being required for a given gain. c) Enhanced timing: The amplification properties of diamond allow improved signal timing and reduced background. d) Lower gain variability: The higher gain of diamond reduces the variability in the gain. e) Low noise: Diamond is less susceptible to thermal noise so it can operate with lower noise levels or at higher temperatures. f) Large area: Synthetic diamond offers low cost, large area coating and is easily grown on shaped surfaces. g) Stability: Synthetic diamond has a stable performance over long periods. Its performance remains high after exposure to air. The electron gain properties of synthetic diamond promises to greatly expand the usage of PMTs in many fields. 4. Application of synthetic Diamond to Detectors We have already measured the performance of synthetic diamond and our measured data supports published results and demonstrates the potential benefits of synthetic diamond as a detector material. This project will transfer the technology from proof-of-concept to prototype, beginning with optimization of manufacturing processes. Firstly we will manufacture two demonstrator detectors to provide data on process optimization. The next stage of the project will be development of a single transmissive gain stage. Transmissive dynodes can operate in two modes: - a) Transmission: input electrons enter through one surface of a thin film of diamond, and output electrons exit through the other. b) Refection: diamond is deposited on an open conductive wire mesh. Input and output electrons enter and exit through the same diamond surface. The transmission technique is superior, providing better detector performance, but is more demanding because of the need to produce very thin films, however we have already demonstrated manufacture. We will investigate both techniques and choose the optimum technology based on performance, manufacturability, developmental and manufacturing costs, and development timescale. We will initially demonstrate a single stage transmissive gain stage to provide comprehensive device diagnostics. The final stage of the project is to design, build and demonstrate a detector using a stack of gain stages with fast response and high gain and incorporating an imaging capability. Performance evaluation will involve testing with AWE collaborators at Aldermaston and field trials in a laser fusion facility at Los Alamos, and in photon counting mode at Photek and SRC.