Detector arrays in spectroscopy

Spatially dispersed spectra of ions, electrons or photons are traditionally measured by scanning the spectra across a narrow slit behind which is a detector. However, the efficiency increase offered by arrays of detectors is so large that their development is increasingly demanding the attention of spectrometer manufacturers. One-dimensional arrays of independent detectors (discrete electrode arrays) offer the highest data accumulation rate as detection can occur simultaneously at many sites, but a high resolution array of this type requires much associated electronics and this has limited the size and the market of such devices. The design and performance issues relating to discrete electrode arrays are discussed and a new high resolution array with all electronics integrated on a single silicon chip developed at Aberystwyth is described. A familiarity with silicon technology is not required by the reader. It is shown that integration brings not only advantages of scale but also of performance.