A wireless-enabled radiation detector using micromachined steel and glass elements in a to-5 package

Abstract

This paper reports a beta/gamma radiation detector that is manufactured by in-package assembly of micromachined stainless steel and glass elements. The detector is hermetically-sealed at 760 Torr with an Ar fill-gas. Gas micro-discharges (between the steel elements) are triggered by the presence of radiation, which can concomitantly transmit a wideband wireless signal. The detector diameter and height are 9 mm and 9.6 mm, respectively, and has a mass of 0.97 g. It has a measured output of >100 cpm when in close proximity to 30 μCi from137Cs. Wireless spectra spanning 1.25 GHz at receiving antenna-to-detector distances >89 cm have been measured, with the device detecting 0.1 μCi from90Sr and operating with a portable high-voltage conversion circuit.