Introduction to Semiconductor Particle Detectors

This paper considers the physical processes which govern the operation of semiconductor particle detectors. It contains a discussion of: the production of hole-electron pairs by energetic particles in solids; the motion of the pairs under the influence of an electric field and in the presence of trapping and recombination; the current wave shape resulting from transport of these carriers; the production of high electric fields to facilitate transport in single conductivity and junction devices; and the influence of high densities of holes and electrons along particle tracks on the transport processes.