X-ray detectors with isotropic response for improved quality control of radiation therapy

Purpose and goal

The main goal for the project was to develop a robust and stable manufacturing process for a new generation of radiation detectors with a close to isotropic response. This kind of detectors enables quality control of new forms of radiation therapy where the incident radiation angle is varied in three dimensions. Despite some delays reducing the initially planned demonstrator activities, the main part of the manufacturing process is now in place and the lack of angular dependence is verified. Altogether this provides a firm ground for continued work towards a productification.

Expected results and effects

Starting from the new manufacturing process that has been developed within the project, we have now a firm base for an industrial viable process for a new generation radiation detectors. The angular insensitivity has been confirmed and the results line up well with the initial expectations for the technology. The added functionality enables manufacturing of equipment for quality control of modern radiation therapies that were hard to investigate earlier due to limitations of conventional detector technology.

Planned approach and implementation

The work has foremost been concentrated on process development. Some unexpected delays were caused by delivery problems for the substrates as well as the availability of some process equipment and expendables and as a consequence, the planned evaluation of the diodes in a demonstrator had to be reduced in scope. However, the most important parts of the evaluation, the development of demonstrator electronics and the verification of the isotropic response of the new detector, were still carried out with good results.