Particle detector prototype based on a discrete-cell sensitive to latchup effect

The paper describes an innovative idea for an ionizing particle detector. The principle is based on a latchup effect that is common in to-date CMOS technologies working in a radiation environment. In principle the detector can operate at room temperature, does not require a high voltage power supply and is intrinsically more tolerant to radiation effects than the common solid-state detectors. A latchup-based detector can be constructed using state-of-the-art technologies and could be applied for beam monitoring or as a heavy-ion selector. A prototype made up of discrete components is described and its rough sensitivity is exploited. Tests with daylight, electrons, via a current pulse generator and with a laser beam have proved that charge sensitivity of the order of 1 pC can be easily achieved