A microfabricated steel and glass radiation detector with inherent wireless signaling

This paper describes an investigation of the performance compromises imposed by a manufacturing approach that utilizes lithographic micromachining processes to fabricate a wireless beta/gamma radiation detector. The device uses in-package assembly of stainless steel electrodes and glass spacers. These elements are micromachined using photochemical etching and powder blasting, respectively. The detector utilizes a commercial, TO-5 package that is hermetically sealed at 760 Torr with an Ar fill-gas. Gas microdischarges between the electrodes, which are initiated by the radiation, transmit wideband wireless signals. The detector diameter and height are 9 and 9.6 mm, respectively, and it weighs 0.97 g. The device performance has been characterized using various sealed, radioisotope sources, e.g., 30–99 μCi from 137Cs (which is a beta and gamma emitter) and 0.1 μCi from 90Sr (which is a pure beta emitter). It has a measured output of >15.5 counts s−1 when in close proximity to 99 μCi from 137Cs. The wireless signaling spans 1.25 GHz at receiving antenna-to-detector distances >89 cm, when in close proximity to a 0.1 μCi 90Sr source. The estimated intrinsic detection efficiency (i.e. with the background rate subtracted) is 3.34% as measured with the biasing arrangement described in the paper. (Some figures in this article are in color only in the electronic version)