Patent ID: 6011265
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A radiation detector in which primary electrons are released into a gas by ionizing radiations and are caused to drift to a collecting electrode by means of an electric field, said radiation detector including a gas electron multiplier comprising at least one matrix of electric field condensing areas, said electric field condensing areas being distributed within a solid surface which is substantially perpendicular to said to said electric field, each of said condensing areas producing a local electric field amplitude enhancement sufficient to generate in said gas an electron avalanche from one of said primary electrons so that said gas electron multiplier operates as an amplifier of a given gain for said primary electrons,said matrix of electric field condensing areas comprising:an insulator having first and second foil metal claddings on opposed faces thereof forming a sandwich structure;a plurality of through holes traversing said sandwich structure; andbiasing means for developing a bias voltage potential which is applied to said first and second metal claddings so as to generate, at each of said through holes, one of said electric field condensing areas, andsaid sandwich structure being disposed substantially perpendicular to said electric field, said first metal cladding forming an input face for said drift electrons and said second metal cladding forming an output face for any electron avalanche generated at each through hole forming one of said electric field condensing areas.