S.M.A.R.T. Lab - Recently Completed Projects

A variety of detector types and materials are studied in the SMART Laboratory with an emphasis on semiconductor materials and devices. Although semiconductor detectors are a specialty, other novel detectors based on gas-filled designs and optical designs are also fabricated and studied by SMART Laboratory researchers.

det ass

An assortment of compound semiconductor materials at various stages of detector processing and fabrication. Shown are samples of HgI2, CdZnTe, GaAs, and PbI2 (from D.S. McGregor and H. Hermon, Nucl. Instrum. and Meth., A 395 (1997) 101 -124.)

Representative Recently Funded and Completed Projects

Self-Biased Boron-Coated High-Purity Epitaxial GaAs Neutron Detectors, DOE SBIR with SPIRE Corporation, 1998 – 2002.

sb-cross section

Shown is a cross section of a typical "self-biased" high-purity epitaxial GaAs neutron detector. The device operates on its own contact potential and does not requires an external power supply to operate. A coating of LiF or B makes the devices sensitive to neutrons.

CdZnTe Trapezoid Detector Research, DOE SBIR with Radiation Safety Engineering, 2000 – 2001.
Non-Destructive Spent Fuel Characterization with Semiconducting GaAs Neutron Imaging Arrays, DOE NEER Grant 1998 -2001. [NEER Report - warning, this file is huge!]

array

A pixelated GaAs neutron detector array designed for neutron imaging applications. The chip has 32 detectors read out simultaneously.

A bulk GaAs neutron detector completely designed and fabricated by Dr. McGregor and his students in the S.M.A.R.T. Laboratory. Many such detectors have been shipped from the S.M.A.R.T. Laboratory to DOE National Laboratories, such as Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Sandia National Lab, and Argonne National Lab.

High Efficiency Thermal Neutron Detectors, DOE NEER Program, 1998-2001.
Custom Designed Schottky Barrier Bulk GaAs Detectors for Neutron Detection, Argonne National Laboratories, 1999 – 2000.
Geometrically Weighted Semiconductor Frisch Grid Detectors, 1998 – 1999.

trap1

A one cubic cm by volume CdZnTe trapezoidal detector designed to overcome deleterious effects from 'hole trapping'. The unique patented design uses numerous effects in unison to achieve high energy resolution at room temperature. The device shown yielded 2.67% FWHM at 662 keV with ordinary commercially available NIM electronics.

Boron-Based Films and Solids for Thermal Neutron Detectors, DOE SBIR with SPIRE Corporation, 1998.
Large Volume CdZnTe Gamma Ray Spectrometers, Department of Energy, 1997 – 1998.