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Part of Brookhaven National Lab's Advanced Technology Research Office.</div> <div id="doeLogoContainer"> <a id="doeLogoLink" title="DOE Office of Science" href="http://science.energy.gov/"> <img class="DOElogo black" title="DOE Office of Science" src="/assets/global/images/logo-doe-black-200px.png" /> <img class="DOElogo white" title="DOE Office of Science" src="/assets/global/images/logo-doe-white-500px.png" /> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container_24" id="siteMenuContainer"> <div class="grid_24"> <ul id="siteMenu"> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/">Home</a> <li> <a href="#">Sensors</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/sensors/">Overview</a> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/sensors/silicon-sensors.php">Silicon</a> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/sensors/germanium.php">Germanium</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/sensors/diamond.php">Diamond</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/instrumentation/sensors/semiconductor-detectors.php">Room-temp. 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Semiconductors</a>  <li><a href="noble-liquid-gas.php" >Noble Liquids and Gases</a> <li><a href="liquid-scintillators.php" >Liquid Scintillators</a> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_15 suffix_1"> <h2>Room-temperature Semiconductors </h2> <p class="font-plus-2">Basic research, medical diagnosis and treatment, nuclear power production, radioactive waste disposal, and nuclear security require high-sensitivity, high-resolution radiation detectors operating in field conditions and at ambient temperatures. Brookhaven鈥檚 Instrumentation Department is developing several types of room-temperature semiconductor detectors and advanced electronics that can support such applications.</p> <h3>Our Capabilities</h3> <ul> <li>Optimization of pixelated, coplanar-grid, and virtual Frisch-grid detector configurations and readout electronics for high-resolution spectroscopy and imaging of gamma-ray sources </li> <li>Characterization of detector materials with nondestructive techniques鈥攆or example, 3-D infrared transmission microscopy and high-resolution x-ray response mapping鈥攖o identify causes of material nonuniformities and provide feedback to crystal growers </li> <li>Identification and investigation of crystal defects impacting detector performance via x-ray beams at Brookhaven鈥檚 National Synchrotron Light Source II </li> <li>Integration of multichannel low-noise readout electronics and advanced signal processing systems</li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <div class="sidebar"> <img alt="photo of Benchtop system" src="../images/rts-detector-testing.jpg"> <p>A benchtop system for testing RTS detectors. In this example, a 4 脳 4 array of CZT virtual Frisch-grid detectors under test is plugged into a motherboard.</p> </div> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div> <div class="caseStudies"> <div class="container_24"> <div class="grid_24"> <h2>Case Studies</h2> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <h3>Gamma Ray Imaging</h3> <p>In response to the need for high-effective-area, high-spectral-resolution gamma cameras by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), we built position-sensitive cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) arrays. </p> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <h3>Radioactive and Nuclear Material Detection</h3> <p>We developed CZT and thallium bromide (TlBr) sensors, front-end electronics, and data acquisition systems for compact, handheld radiation detectors. Nuclear inspectors and law enforcement officers at the NNSA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security will use these detectors to conduct security screenings, monitor nuclear facilities, and perform other radiation monitoring activities.</p> </div> <div class="grid_8"> <h3>Gamma-ray Astronomy</h3> We prototyped CZT detector arrays with submillimeter position resolution for the future NASA All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-Ray Observatory (AMEGO) telescope. AMEGO requires high position sensitivity for the study of supernovae and other astrophysical objects with unique signatures in the gamma-ray region.</div> <div class="clear"></div> <div class="grid_24" style="margin:1em 0 1em 0;"> </div> <div class="grid_12"> <img class="fwm fwd" alt="ASIC chip" src="../images/sensors/asic-chip.jpg" /> <p class="caption">A front-end application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip mounted on a readout board (left). This ASIC is a key component of the signal readout system we developed for our basic 4 脳 4 arrays of CZT and TlBr detectors that enabled us to achieve a germanium-quality spectral response. For example, the spectrum of a U-232 source through a 5 mm lead measured with a 10 脳 10 脳 32 mm<sup>3</sup> position-sensitive CZT bar shows that high-energy gamma-ray lines (e.g., 2.6 MeV) can be detected with such devices (right).</p> </div> <div class="grid_6"> <img class="fwd fwm" alt="baseline array" src="../images/sensors/baseline-array.jpg" /> <p class="caption">A 4 脳 4 baseline array of position-sensitive virtual Frisch-grid CZT detectors.</p> </div> <div class="grid_6"> <img class="fwd fwm" alt="x-ray topography" src="../images/sensors/x-ray-topography.jpg" /> <p class="caption">An x-ray topography image of a 2 脳 2 cm<sup>2</sup> CZT crystal with internal defects.</p> </div>  </div> </div> </div> <div id="topOfPage"><span class="fa fa-chevron-circle-up fa-lg topOfPageTrigger"></span></div> <div class="footer" id="footer" > <div class="container_24"> <div class="grid_6"> <h3 id="BNL">Brookhaven National Laboratory</h3> <p>PO Box 5000<br/> Upton, NY 11973-5000<br/> (631) 344-8000</p> <p><a id="contactUs" class="extrasmall white button" href="https://www.bnl.gov/contact-us/">Contact us</a></p> <ul class="socialMediaIcons"> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BrookhavenLab" title="Follow Us on 𝕏"><i class="fa-brands fa-square-x-twitter fa-2x"></i></a> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/brookhavenlab" title="Follow Us on Facebook"><span class="fa fa-facebook-square fa-2x"></span></a> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/brookhavenlab/" title="Follow Us on Instagram"><span class="fa fa-instagram fa-2x"></span></a> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/brookhavenlab/" title="Follow Us on LinkedIn"><span class="fa fa-linkedin-square fa-2x"></span></a> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/BrookhavenLab" title="Follow Us on YouTube"><span class="fa fa-youtube-square fa-2x"></span></a> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/brookhavenlab/" title="Follow Us on Flickr"><span class="fa fa-flickr fa-2x"></span></a> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_3"> <ul class="linkList2"> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/science/">Our Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/about/">About</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/about/history/">History</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/about/org/">Leadership</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/visiting/">Visiting the Lab</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/siteindex/">Site Index</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/directory/">Staff Directory</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_3"> <ul class="linkList2"> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://jobs.bnl.gov/">Careers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/science/facilities.php">Facilities</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/guv/">Guest Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/partner/">Partnerships</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/ppm/">For Vendors</a></li> <li><a id="deptLink" href="javascript:void(0);">Departments</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/visiting/events/">Public Events</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_4"> <ul class="linkList2 lastList"> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/diversity/">Diversity, Equity & Inclusion</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/techtransfer/">Technology Licensing</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/externalaffairs/">Stakeholder Relations</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/education/">Students & Educators</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/about/sustainability/">Sustainability</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.bnl.gov/privacy/">Privacy and Security Notice</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://doe.responsibledisclosure.com/hc/en-us">Vulnerability Disclosure Program</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid_7 prefix_1"> <h3 id="BSA">Brookhaven Science Associates</h3> <p>Brookhaven Science Associates manages and operates Brookhaven National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. 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