A new detector-amplification principle proposed by Kemmer and Lutz in 1986 has been experimentally verified. Outstanding features of this device are the built-in amplification, the signal charge storage capability and the possibility of repeated non-destructive readout. The device was used for detection of X-rays from a 241Am and from Am and from an 55Fe source. Very low noise figures (σ=30 electrons corresponding to an energy resolution of FWHM = 250 eV at 6 keV energy) have been obtained at room temperature. Various applications of the structure either as detector or as purely electronic element are possible. One of the most intriguing is the use as a pixel detector with random access non-destructive readout. This device may be operated at very low power, as only reading (of one single pixel at a time), not storing, consumes power. Further options of the device are fast clearing, gating and variation of the pixel size during readout. The latter property can be used to drastically increase the readout speed compared to more standard two dimensional devices as e.g. CCD detectors, as one may restrict the high density readout to regions of interest determined beforehand by a coarse scan of the whole detector. An alternative use of the device is as an analog or digital memory, or as a simple transistor with drastically reduced parasitic capacitances. Possible further developments are the combination with a novel three dimensional analog storage device which may either be used as a detector with built-in storage of several charge images or as a three dimensional analog memory. © 1990.
