SiC Bulk Semi-insulating Semiconductor Detector for an Alpha Radiation

A bulk semi-insulating(SI) SiC seems to be one of the most important candidates for the radiation hard semiconductor particle detector operated at room temperature and in air. 4H-SiC has been studied as a radiation detector since 1970. In order to ensure a longterm reliability and the quality of the conventional ohmic contacts have to be improved. The bulk SiC structure was found to be a better radiation hard device than typical Si diodes. Alpha-particle monitoring method for the detection of actinides, specially, Pu-238 and U-235, which can be available for a nuclear weapon grade, are tending to be important. Alpha spectrometry in a vacuum was known to give a good resolution to be sufficient to separate on isotope abundance in a nuclear material. However, in order to apply it to a high radiation field for example, a spent fuel treatment facility, the nuclear material loading and unloading process in a vacuum is one of the great technical challenges. Therefore, the main technical issue is how to achieve the development of an alpha spectrometry at an air. Our study is focused on development of high resolution alpha-particle detector applicable in air and room temperature