CdZnTe technology for gamma ray detectors

Abstract

CdZnTe detector technology has been developed at NASA Goddard for imaging and spectroscopy applications in hard x-ray and gamma ray astronomy. A CdZnTe strip detector array with capabilities for arc second imaging and spectroscopy has been built as a prototype for a space flight gamma ray burst instrument. CdZnTe detectors also have applications for medical imaging, environmental protection, transportation safety, nuclear safeguards and safety, nuclear non-proliferation, and national security. This can be accomplished from space and also from portable detectors on earth. One of the great advantages of CdZnTe is that the detectors can be operated at room temperature which eliminates the need for cryogenic cooling. CdZnTe detectors have good energy resolution (3.6 keV at 60 keV) and excellent spatial resolution (<100 microns). NASA Goddard has developed the fabrication technology to make a variery of planar, strip, and pixel detectors and integrated these detectors to high density electronics. We have built a 2×2 and a large area (60 cm2, 36 detectors) 6×6 strip detector array. This paper will summarize the CdZnTe detector fabrication and packaging technology developed at Goddard.