Speaker
Dr
Marco Povoli
(SINTEF MINALAB, Oslo, Norway)
Description
The recent revival of space exploration implies an increased interest in space travels that are associated with challenges and risks, mostly related to the ever-changing space weather. Radiation of any types can be detrimental to astronauts and the equipment on-board. Monitoring radiation levels reliably in space is therefore becoming a critical aspect for space missions. Many existing radiation monitoring systems are bulky and require high operating voltages and powers, for example, the Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC). Other systems are often fabricated using off-the-shelf components, including Si diodes for radiation detection, but lack the necessary radiation tolerance to ensure sensor survival throughout the mission.
The 3D silicon sensor technology provides unique solutions to the limitations of the existing technologies for radiation monitoring in space. This new technology was introduced to mitigate the effects of radiation damage in High Energy Physics Experiments. Through state-of-the-art micro-machining, 3D technology decouples the inter-electrode spacing from the thickness of the sensor. Columnar electrodes are etched through the silicon bulk, allowing for inter-electrode spacing independent of the bulk thickness. The reduction in electrode spacing delivers low operating voltage (<10 V), fast sensor response (< 1ns), and increased radiation hardness. 3D silicon pixel sensors fabricated for the ATLAS experiment at CERN, demonstrated operation up to fluences in excess of 1x10$^{16}$ n$_{eq}$/cm$^{2}$. Design, fabrication, and testing of a novel 3D silicon sensors tailored to space applications and manufactured at SINTEF MiNaLab are here reported. Electrical characteristics and sensor response to radioactive sources will be presented. Further tests plans will be discussed together with a development plan aiming at a portable, real-time on-line micro-dosimeter for space applications realised in collaboration with the Centre for Medical Radiation Physics at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Primary author
Dr
Marco Povoli
(SINTEF MINALAB, Oslo, Norway)
Co-authors
Dr
Anand Summanwar
(SINTEF MINALAB, Oslo, Norway)
Prof.
Anatoly Rosenfeld
(CMRP, University of Wollongong, Australia)
Dr
Angela Kok
(SINTEF MINALAB, Oslo, Norway)
Dr
Linh Tran
(CMRP, University of Wollongong, Australia)
Dr
Ozhan Koybasi
(SINTEF MINALAB, Oslo, Norway)
