We are currently developing Perovskite semiconductor-based high spatial resolution detectors in collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) for use at the synchrotron beamlines. The high sensitivity of the perovskites to X-rays, along with their high efficiency, are ideal candidates for high-energy X-ray detection. BNL is designing a custom ASIC for these cameras.

Our R&D effort in this area is focused on CapeSym’s patent-pending imaging plate technology involving crystalline scintillators incorporated inside a microcapillary matrix. These detectors have the potential to surpass the current state-of-the-art at a much lower cost and higher spatial resolution. As an example, the CLLB-based imaging plates show very high light yields and response uniformity along with a high spatial resolution of about 200 microns. The current research direction includes the fabrication of high spatial resolution neutron imaging plates using organic glass scintillators.

We are developing low-cost ultrafast radiation detectors for use in nuclear physics and high-energy physics experiments. One of the candidates is gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3), which has demonstrated fast decay of 2ns and a light yield that is ten times the current state-of-the-art lead tungstate scintillators even after irradiation under a gamma dose of 2Mrad. These detectors are currently being evaluated for various homeland security and nuclear physics applications.

We have developed deep UV wavelength shifters based on perovskite quantum dots with quantum efficiencies as high as 70%. These can provide an SNR boost of three times compared with the current state-of-the-art. These next-generation wavelength shifters are currently being considered for various high-energy physics experiments.

We are currently developing radiation hardened scintillator detector arrays based on SrI2 scintillators that will be used for space applications.