Magnetic field effects on large area avalanche photodiodes at cryogenic temperatures

Abstract

Abstract We present results for detection of X-rays by large area avalanche photodiodes (APDs) in strong magnetic fields and at cryogenic temperatures. Whereas at room temperature we observe essentially no effects on the response, at cryogenic temperature we observe significant distortion when the magnetic field is in the plane of the APD surface (and thus perpendicular to the electric field in the APD). At all temperatures, effects are minor when the magnetic field is normal to the APD surface (and thus parallel to the electric field in the APD). We performed measurements of the response of an APD to illumination by X-rays in fields between 0 and 4.6 T, for temperatures between 77 and 250 K. Measurements were performed using 241Am and 55Fe sources, and 1.5 keV X-rays produced by aluminum fluorescence. The data indicate that the effects are associated with those X-rays that are absorbed in the drift region of the APD.