Our technology development is centered on materials, physical detection mechanisms, and experimental validation. We focus on understanding and exploiting radiation-hard materials, particularly diamond, and on demonstrating detector concepts through modeling, prototyping, and testing under realistic radiation conditions.
Charge collection in diamond provides fast response, excellent radiation tolerance, and stable operation in high-dose environments. We develop and evaluate diamond detectors operating in charge-collection mode, with emphasis on detector design, integration with timing and flux measurement systems, and calibration under realistic radiation conditions. This work establishes performance baselines and informs the operational limits of charge-collection detectors.
E.M. Muller, G.A. Carini, L. Fabris, G. Giacomini, J. Kierstead, S.M. McConchie, D.A. Pinelli, S. Rescia, E. Rossi, Charge collection efficiency of diamond and silicon sensors irradiated with alpha particles, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 566, 165778 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2025.165778
M. Zou, J. Bohon, J. Smedley, J. Distel, K. Schmitt, R. Zhu, L. Zhang, E. M. Muller, Proton radiation effects on carrier transport in diamond radiation detectors, AIP advances, 10, 2 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5130768
T. Zhou, W. Ding, M. Gaowei, G. De Geronimo, J. Bohon, J. Smedley, and E. Muller, Pixelated transmission-mode diamond X-ray detector, Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 22, (2015). https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600577515014824
Diamond exhibits fast, radiation-hard scintillation that can be leveraged for neutron and charged-particle detection in environments where conventional scintillators fail. We develop diamond scintillation detectors using a range of material forms and optical readout strategies, focusing on timing performance, stability, and operation in high-radiation or high-temperature environments. This approach enables compact detectors with long operational lifetimes and reduced sensitivity to gamma backgrounds.
E. M. Muller, A. Bolotnikov, E. R. Farguhar, N. Gallice, T. Tsang, Scintillation properties of diamond powders and feasibility of using them in thermal neutron detectors, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 171093 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.171093
N. Gallice, A. Bolotnikov, E. M. Muller, T. Tsang, Scintillation light detection in polycrystalline diamond using single photon detectors, Journal of Instrumentation, 20, 7, C07018 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/20/07/C07018
Many radiation detectors fail due to bulk damage, charge trapping, or interface degradation under sustained dose. We focus on materials and interfaces that maintain performance in extreme radiation environments, including diamond and other wide-bandgap materials. Our work emphasizes understanding radiation damage mechanisms, materials selection, and processing approaches that extend detector lifetime and reliability.
We use physics-based modeling and simulation to guide detector design and interpret experimental results. This includes radiation transport, energy deposition, optical transport, and signal generation. Simulation tools are used to optimize detector geometry, material selection, and system response prior to fabrication, reducing development time and experimental iteration.
We translate concepts into working hardware through rapid prototyping and experimental validation. Prototype detectors are fabricated, integrated with readout electronics, and tested under realistic radiation conditions. Demonstration efforts focus on quantifying performance metrics such as efficiency, timing, stability, and radiation tolerance to support transition from laboratory development to fieldable systems.