STUDY OF THE POSITION-SENSITIVE DETECTION OF X-RAYS WITH A SILICON DRIFT CHAMBER

A silicon drift chamber (SDC) is an attractive device for the position-sensitive detection of low-energy radiation. In case of X-ray detection the start signal has to be generated internally. Results of computer simulations are presented showing that in a p-type SDC the influence of the variation in the rise time of the start signal on the position resolution is much smaller than in an n-type SDC. Furthermore, calculations show that in both cases, the noise contribution to the position resolution is much more important. Again in a p-type detector the influence of the noise is smaller than in an n-type SDC. The conclusion seems justified that for position-sensitive detection of X-rays the use of a p-type SDC is preferable.