Improvements of a-Si:H/CsI(TI) X-RAY Detectors for Radiation Monitoring

Photosensitive a-Si:H p-i-n diodes, working in photovoltaic mode, have been coupled to CsI(T1) scintillators for dosimetry applications to X-ray monitoring in the energy range from 50 keV up to 15 MeV. A “mesa” approach for p-i-n diodes has been adopted both in order to better define the geometry and to obtain very low dark current. In order to optimize the geometry, a computer program has been created which simulates light generation in the scintillator, the collection by the detector and the photovoltaic current obtained as a function of exposure rate. Measurements have been carried out in the X-rays energy ranges 50-240 keV, at 6MeV and at 15 MeV. Detectors are linear in response and shows a good sensitivity, with the capability of measuring dose rates as low as 60 mR/h. The agreement between experimental data and simulation outputs can be considered good.