Super-radiation hard detector technologies: 3-D and widegap detectors

The radiation hardness of semiconductor detectors for harsh environments, including nuclear, space, and particle physics, may be enhanced by a number of strategies. We examine the use of materials alternative to silicon, namely silicon carbide and gallium nitride, as well as a nonconventional geometry called "3-D." Fabricated detectors were irradiated to fast hadron fluences of 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -2/ and measurements were made of I--V, C--V and charge collection efficiency before and after irradiation. The performance in each case was found to degrade only slightly, promising highly radiation tolerant operation.