Flat-panel X-Ray Imaging Detector with Avalanche Gain

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to develop a practical flat-panel x-ray imaging detector with programmable gain in order to address the increasing demand for wide dynamic range flat panel detectors in advanced x-ray imaging applications. The proposed detector employs three major components: a structured cesium iodide (CsI) scintillator to convert x-rays to optical photons; an avalanche amorphous selenium (a-Se) photoconductor, HARP (High-gain Avalanche Rushing amorphous Photoconductor), to convert the optical image to charge and provide a programmable gain; and a large area active matrix (AM) thin film transistor (TFT) array to read out the image electronically in real-time. The proposed detector has been named SHARP-AMFPI (Scintillator-HARP Active Matrix Flat-Panel Imager). It is capable of producing x-ray quantum noise limited images at the lowest dose expected for x-ray imaging (0.1