The advent of semiconductor detectors has revolutionized the broad field of X-ray spectroscopy. Semiconductor detectors, originally developed for particle physics, are now widely used for X-ray spectroscopy in a large variety of fields, as X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray astronomy and diagnostic medicine. The success of semiconductor detectors is due to several unique properties that are not...

Gamma-ray imaging with position-sensitive germanium detectors offers the advantages of excellent energy resolution, high detection efficiency, and potentially good spatial resolution. The development of the amorphous-semiconductor electrical contact technology for germanium detectors has simplified the production of these position-sensitive detectors and has made possible the use of unique dete...

Spark chambers, scintillation and Cerenkov detectors are used extensively in high energy physics experiments. The potential usefulness of semiconductor detectors is being investigated. There is a need for detectors which will identify very high energy particles. The various types of spark chambers are briefly reviewed, including narrow gap, wide gap and filmless chambers. Applications of scinti...

This tutorial paper provides an overview of design considerations for semiconductor radiation detectors and electronics in high radiation environments. Problems specific to particle accelerator applications are emphasized and many of the presented results originated in extensive studies of radiation effects in large scale particle detectors for the SSC and LHC. Basic radiation damage mechanisms...