First investigation of the response of solar cells to heavy ions above 1 AMeV

Abstract

Solar cells have been used since several decades for the detection of fission fragments at about 1 AMeV. The advantages of solar cells regarding their cost (few euros) and radiation damage resistance make them an interesting candidate for heavy ion detection and an appealing alternative to silicon detectors. A first exploratory measurement of the response of solar cells to heavy ions at energies above 1 AMeV has been performed at the GANIL facility, Caen, France. Such measurements were performed with 84 Kr and 129 Xe beams ranging from 7 to 15 AMeV. The energy and time response of several types of solar cells were studied. The best performance was observed for cells of 10 x10 mm 2 , with an energy and time resolution of σ(E)/E=1.4% and 3.6 ns (FWHM), respectively. Irradiations at rates from a few hundred to 10 6 particles per second were also performed to investigate the behavior of the cells with increasing intensity.

Low-energy nuclear reactions with stored ions: a new era of astrophysical experiments at heavy ion storage rings

“…In particular, Double-sided Silicon Strip Detectors (DSSD) are commonly used for ion spectroscopy in low-energy nuclear physics and became available recently featuring low out-gassing materials and in situ bakeout above 100 • C [30]. Moreover, the development of solar cells and diamond semiconductor chips as heavy ion detectors is on-going and eventually envisioned for use in storage rings [31].…”