Digital Single Photon Sensors to Enable a Step change in Civil Radiation Detection

There is a growing concern over the risk of detonation of a radiological device, such as a "dirty bomb" in a major western city. Kromek supplies handheld radiation detectors to the US Government as part of their programme to build a capability to find such threats. In order to develop its devices to meet emerging requirements for this application, Kromek will work with the University of Edinburgh to develop and assess their recently emerged single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) devices to enable a step change in size, weight power and performance of the handheld detectors. This project will assess a current embodiment of a SPAD against the application requirements, allowing a redesign and fabrication of the new chip, which will be comprehensively characterised for radiation detection.