Abstract
New detectors designed to have a radiation-stable, accurate and more human tissue-like response when measuring the radiation dose delivered in Synchrotron X-ray radiation fields is particularly important in Microbeam Radiation Therapy. This paper focusses on demonstrating an epitaxial silicon-carbide (EPI-SiC) detector specifically manufactured for such radiation fields. In particular, how the EPI-SiC detector responds to the intense radiation with applied bias and any measureable radiation damage effects that may impact on the ability of the EPI-SiC detector to accurately measure the radiation doses delivered. The EPI-SiC detector responds well to synchrotron X-ray broad beams generated at the Australian Synchrotron. In edge-on detector readout mode the sharp penumbra of the X-ray beam defined by a 0.532 mm wide rectangular beam aperture can easily be observed. At an applied reverse bias of 100 V, 65 nA of photocurrent is measured when the EPI-SiC detector is fully illuminated by the beam. With approximately 30,000 Gy delivered (60 times more than the peak dose typically delivered in MRT) we observe a 19.4 % increase in the measured reverse bias dark current. These results are very encouraging, and indicate that the prototype EPI-SiC detectors are suitable for use in these intense synchrotron radiation environments.