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

1. 该项目的目的是利用人造金刚石技术开发和商业化成像探测器，以提供大大增强的性能。2. 在许多学科中，检测快速信号的需求是至关重要的。非常高速、低幅度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器件，自那以后一直是主要的探测器。尽管硅芯片已经取代真空管成为大多数成像应用的首选技术，但与PMT等设备相比，硅芯片的高速和灵敏度性能有限。该项目的目的是将莱斯特空间研究中心（SRC）通过空间科学研发开发的探测器技术和专门知识，以及布里斯托尔钻石集团在钻石化学方面的最新发展，应用于成像PMT的商业化，该PMT具有突破性的性能，可广泛用于商业应用，并与国防部门/原子武器机构的核聚变等离子体诊断有特殊关系。金刚石作为电子放大材料的优点a)高增益：金刚石是少数几种经正确处理后具有高电子增益的材料之一。b)简化设计：金刚石可以具有更高的每个放大级增益，从而减少给定增益所需的级数。c)增强时序：金刚石的放大特性允许改善信号时序和减少背景。d)较低的增益可变性：金刚石的高增益降低了增益的可变性。e)低噪音：金刚石不容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：人造金刚石成本低，覆盖面积大，易于在异形表面生长。g)稳定性：人造金刚石具有长期稳定的性能。暴露在空气中后，其性能仍然很高。人造金刚石的电子增益特性有望极大地扩展pmt在许多领域的应用。4. 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，以提供工艺优化的数据。该项目的下一阶段将是开发单发射增益级。透射节点有两种工作模式：—a)透射：输入电子从金刚石薄膜的一个表面进入，输出电子从另一个表面退出。b)反射：金刚石沉积在一个开放的导电丝网上。输入和输出电子通过同一金刚石表面进出。传输技术是优越的，提供了更好的探测器性能，但要求更高，因为需要生产非常薄的薄膜，但我们已经证明了制造。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。我们将首先演示一个单级传输增益级，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，该探测器使用具有快速响应和高增益的增益级堆栈，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，在Los Alamos的激光聚变设施进行现场试验，以及在Photek和SRC的光子计数模式下进行测试。

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.