A five-channel, diamond photoconducting x-ray detector array for z-pinch experiments

Abstract

We have built a five-channel, x-ray detector array based on diamond photoconducting detectors (PCDs). The diamond elements have dimensions of 3 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm (or 0.5 mm). We use diamond PCDs for their stability, flat spectral response, and low leakage currents. The good time response of diamond PCDs is due to the 100-ps electron/hole recombination time. Filters were designed to give information in the 1–10-keV spectral region. Calibration of the diamond PCDs showed sensitivities between 4 and 7 × 10−4 A/W for a bias of 100 V. We shall present data from z-pinch experiments on Saturn.