Patent ID: 8319175
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: B82Y,G01T

Abstract:
1. A radiation detector, the radiation detector comprising: at least one gas chamber including a cathode plate and a substrate, wherein the cathode plate and the substrate are separated by a gap; at least one gas disposed within the gas chamber, wherein the gas is configured to produce electrons and ions through ionization in response to at least one ionizing particle traveling through the gas chamber; an array of nano-tips disposed on at least a portion of the substrate to form an anode structure for attracting and collecting electrons; and an external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is configured to generate an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips and the electric field is selected to (1) operate below a discharge region and (2) ionize the gas to produce further electrons and ions in response to electrons that drift towards the array of nano-tips; wherein the radiation detector is configured to produce a signal based upon the electrons that are collected at the anode structure.