First Results for the pLGAD Sensor for Low-Penetrating Particles

TL;DR

This paper introduces the pLGAD sensor, a novel low-noise silicon detector optimized for low-energy protons, demonstrating promising initial characterization results for high-efficiency particle detection.

Contribution

It presents the design and initial characterization of the pLGAD sensor, tailored for detecting low-penetrating particles with improved efficiency and practicality.

Findings

Prototype sensors show promising detection capabilities.

pLGAD offers higher efficiency than non-silicon technologies.

Initial results validate the sensor's suitability for low-energy proton detection.

Abstract

Silicon sensors are the go-to technology for high-precision sensors in particle physics. But only recently low-noise silicon sensors with internal amplification became available. The so-called Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors have been developed for applications in High Energy Physics, but lack two characteristics needed for the measurement of low-energy protons (<60 keV): a thin entrance window (in the order of tens of nm) and the efficient amplification of signals created near the sensor's surface (in a depth below 1 um). In this paper we present the so-called proton Low Gain Avalanche Detector (pLGAD) sensor concept and some results from characterization of the first prototypes of the sensor. The pLGAD is specifically designed to detect low-energy protons, and other low-penetrating particles. It will have a higher detection efficiency than non-silicon technologies, and promises to be a lot cheaper and easier to operate than competing silicon technologies.