Silicon carbide detector for ionizing radiation

Silicon Carbide dosimeter consisting of a system of detectors, in a monolithic structure, capable of both identifying the type of radiation and measuring the dose released on micrometer thicknesses or volumes. The extreme versatility of the technology makes it applicable both as a classical dosimeter and in microdosimetry, as well as for medical imaging applications.

How does it work?

The characterisation of radiation beams used in radiotherapy is carried out using instruments capable of providing a dose measurement. At present, such instruments are unable to determine the amount of energy released at the cellular or sub-cellular level, rendering their application ineffective in those fields where radiobiological assessments are indispensable. The invention goes beyond the state of the art by presenting a dosimeter consisting of a detector system, called a telescope, capable of identifying the type of radiation and measuring the dose released on micrometer thicknesses or volumes. The presence of silicon carbide, a material that is extremely resistant to radiation damage, is one of the device’s strengths. Furthermore, the integration of such microdosimeters into two-dimensional structures makes also their use in imaging applications possible.

Applications

• Dosimetry;
• Microdosimetry;
• Radiotherapy;
• Hadrontherapy;
• Radiation monitoring;
• Medical imaging.

Advantages

• Versatility in terms of configuration, size and geometry;
• Resistance to radiation damage;
• Low energy consumption;
• Low background noise;
• Ionic identification.