A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons
Low-Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGADs) are critical sensors for the ATLAS and CMS timing detectors at the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), offering enhanced timing resolution with gain factors of 20 to 50. However, their radiation tolerance is hindered by the Acceptor Removal Phenomenon (A...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Aref Vakili Mahsa Farasat Antonino La Magna Markus Italia Lucio Pancheri |
| author_facet | Aref Vakili Mahsa Farasat Antonino La Magna Markus Italia Lucio Pancheri |
| author_sort | Aref Vakili |
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| description | Low-Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGADs) are critical sensors for the ATLAS and CMS timing detectors at the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), offering enhanced timing resolution with gain factors of 20 to 50. However, their radiation tolerance is hindered by the Acceptor Removal Phenomenon (ARP), which deactivates boron in the gain layer, reducing gain below the threshold for accurate timing. This study investigates the radiation hardness of thin, carbon-doped LGAD sensors developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to address ARP-induced limitations. Active dopant profiles in the gain layer, junction, and bulk were measured using a Spreading Resistance Probe (SRP) profilometer, and the effects of annealing and neutron irradiation at fluences of 3 × 10<sup>14</sup>, 1 × 10<sup>15</sup>, and 3 × 10<sup>15</sup> neq/cm<sup>2</sup> (1 MeV equivalent) were analyzed. Low carbon dose rates showed minimal improvement due to enhanced deactivation, while higher doses improved radiation hardness, demonstrating a non-linear dose–response relationship. These findings highlight the potential of optimizing gain layers with high carbon doses and low-diffusion boron to extend LGAD lifetimes in high-radiation environments. Future research will refine carbon implantation strategies and explore alternative approaches to further enhance the radiation hardness of LGADs. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-53f8382c7c5e493cb1a2c244dbbf03122025-08-20T02:53:38ZengMDPI AGInstruments2410-390X2024-12-01845310.3390/instruments8040053A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast NeutronsAref Vakili0Mahsa Farasat1Antonino La Magna2Markus Italia3Lucio Pancheri4National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Southern National Laboratories (LNS), Via S. Sofia 62, 95123 Catania, ItalyNational Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Southern National Laboratories (LNS), Via S. Sofia 62, 95123 Catania, ItalyInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, CNR, 95121 Catania, ItalyInstitute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, CNR, 95121 Catania, ItalyIndustrial Engineering Department, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, ItalyLow-Gain Avalanche Diodes (LGADs) are critical sensors for the ATLAS and CMS timing detectors at the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC), offering enhanced timing resolution with gain factors of 20 to 50. However, their radiation tolerance is hindered by the Acceptor Removal Phenomenon (ARP), which deactivates boron in the gain layer, reducing gain below the threshold for accurate timing. This study investigates the radiation hardness of thin, carbon-doped LGAD sensors developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to address ARP-induced limitations. Active dopant profiles in the gain layer, junction, and bulk were measured using a Spreading Resistance Probe (SRP) profilometer, and the effects of annealing and neutron irradiation at fluences of 3 × 10<sup>14</sup>, 1 × 10<sup>15</sup>, and 3 × 10<sup>15</sup> neq/cm<sup>2</sup> (1 MeV equivalent) were analyzed. Low carbon dose rates showed minimal improvement due to enhanced deactivation, while higher doses improved radiation hardness, demonstrating a non-linear dose–response relationship. These findings highlight the potential of optimizing gain layers with high carbon doses and low-diffusion boron to extend LGAD lifetimes in high-radiation environments. Future research will refine carbon implantation strategies and explore alternative approaches to further enhance the radiation hardness of LGADs.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-390X/8/4/53HL-LHCparticle tracking detectorssolid-state detectorstiming detectorsradiation hardnessmicrostructural mechanism |
| spellingShingle | Aref Vakili Mahsa Farasat Antonino La Magna Markus Italia Lucio Pancheri A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons Instruments HL-LHC particle tracking detectors solid-state detectors timing detectors radiation hardness microstructural mechanism |
| title | A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons |
| title_full | A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons |
| title_fullStr | A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons |
| title_short | A New Approach to Enhancing Radiation Hardness in Advanced Nuclear Radiation Detectors Subjected to Fast Neutrons |
| title_sort | new approach to enhancing radiation hardness in advanced nuclear radiation detectors subjected to fast neutrons |
| topic | HL-LHC particle tracking detectors solid-state detectors timing detectors radiation hardness microstructural mechanism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-390X/8/4/53 |
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