Position Sensitive Particle Detection by Means of Multiple Diode Arrays

Multiple diode arrays of the type developed for optical image sensing in vidicon-type TV camera tubes have been investigated as two-dimensional position sensitive detectors of single charged particles. The approximately half-inch square arrays consist of more than 700,000 diffused silicon diodes. The array is read out by a scanning electron beam. With such a system we have observed individual pulses from helium ions alpha particles and fission fragments in the 0.5 to 50 MeV energy range. The spatial resolution of the system is observed to be about 30 microns for the lower energies.