Kiselspårdetektorer

Kiselspårdetektorer, often referred to as silicon strip detectors, are solid-state particle detectors used in experimental physics, particularly in particle accelerators and nuclear physics experiments. They are constructed from semiconductor-grade silicon wafers that have been processed to create a grid of parallel strips. When a charged particle passes through the silicon, it ionizes the material, creating electron-hole pairs. An applied electric field across the detector causes these charge carriers to drift towards electrodes positioned along the strips. The signal generated by the charge collection on each strip allows for the precise reconstruction of the particle's trajectory.

The key advantage of kiselspårdetektorer lies in their excellent spatial resolution. The width of the strips can be as small as tens of micrometers, enabling very accurate measurements of position. This high precision is crucial for tracking particles that may be produced in large numbers and with complex trajectories. They offer good energy loss measurement capabilities and are relatively fast, allowing them to handle high particle fluxes.

These detectors are fabricated using microelectronic fabrication techniques, making them suitable for mass production and integration into large detector systems. They are widely used in experiments at facilities like CERN, where they form essential components of tracking chambers designed to identify and measure the properties of subatomic particles. Their robustness and reliability have made them a standard tool in modern particle physics research.