Large area avalanche photodiodes in scintillation and X-rays detection

The presented paper summarizes our earlier studies on application of beveled-edge Large Area Avalanche Photodiodes (LAAPDs) in gamma-rays scintillation detection. LAAPDs, due to their high quantum efficiency and low excess noise factor allow for better statistical accuracy of the signal as compared to photomultipliers. The device dark noise contribution significantly affects energy resolution only for gamma-rays with energy below 50 keV. Notably better or comparable energy resolutions to those observed with a XP2020Q photomultiplier were obtained with the LAAPDs for a number of different scintillators. Particularly, the recorded energy resolutions of 4.3 +/- 0.2% and 4.8 +/- 0.14% measured with YAP and CsI(Tl) crystals, respectively, for the 662 keV gamma-peak from a Cs-137 Source belong to the best observed ever with these scintillation detectors. Results of the study of timing with fast scintillators coupled to the LAAPD showed subnanosecond time resolution of 570 +/- 30 ps for Co-60 gamma-rays detected in LSO crystal. The response of LAAPD to X-rays and factors limiting energy resolution have been discussed too. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.