Microparticle detector based on the energy gap disappearance of semiconductors (Se, I, Te, Bi, Ge, Sn, Si, and InSb) at high pressure

A new rigid vibration‐insensitive detector is described as suitable as a gauge in high‐pressure techniques and as a registration device for small dust particles during space missions. The detector is based on sound physical principles and works as a go‐no go (hit‐no hit) detector. Its operation has been proved with a 2‐MV dust‐particle accelerator by shooting iron particles of mass around 10−10 g with velocities from 2.4 to 6.7 km/sec. In the considered range, the slope of the output signal versus particle mass is found to be 3.2 at ν=3.8±0.05 km/sec. The slope increases for smaller particle masses and higher velocities. The voltage output of the pressure‐sensitive detector versus mass is more sensitive than that of the ion charge (slope≈0.9) which is collected from the plasma at impact. A rough model of the function of the device is given.