Patent ID: 7514691

Claim:
A solid state ionising radiation detector comprising: a silicon-based absorber within which, when in use, electrical charge is generated upon the absorption of ionising radiation, the absorber having a front face with an active region through which incident ionising radiation is received, and a rear face; a front electrode located at the front face; and a rear electrode substantially covering the rear face; wherein the front and rear electrodes are arranged in use to generate an electric field in the absorber so as to collect said electrical charge, wherein said front and rear electrodes are the only electrodes defining said electric field throughout said absorber between said active region and said rear face; wherein the area of the rear face is substantially smaller than that of the active region of the front face and wherein at least part of the absorber within which the electric field is generated adjacent said rear face is bounded by substantially smooth, substantially electrically non-conductive, and substantially tapered sidewalls.