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This work evaluates the viability of polyimide and parylene-C for passivation of lithium-drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detectors. The passivated Si(Li) detectors will form the particle tracker and X-ray detector of the General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) experiment, a balloon-borne experiment optimized to detect cosmic antideuterons produced in dark matter annihilations or decays. Successful passivation coatings were achieved by thermally curing polyimides, and the optimized coatings form an excellent barrier against humidity and organic contamination. The passivated Si(Li) detectors deliver ≲ 4 keV energy resolution (FWHM) for 20 − 100 keV X-rays while operating at temperatures of − 35 to − 45 °C. This is the first reported successful passivation of Si(Li)-based X-ray detectors operated above cryogenic temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium-drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detector developed for the General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) experiment features a thick (∼ 2.2 mm) sensitive layer, large (10 cm) diameter, and excellent energy resolution (∼ 4 keV for 20–100 keV X-rays) at a relatively high operating temperature (approximately −40 °C). Mass production of GAPS Si(Li) detectors has been performed to construct a large-volume silicon tracker for GAPS. We achieved the first success of the mass production of large-area Si(Li) detectors with a high (∼ 90%) yield rate. Valuable datasets related to detector fabrication, such as detector performance and manufacturing parameters, were recorded and collected during the mass production. This study analyzes the datasets using statistical methods with the aim of comprehensively examining the mass production and to gain valuable insight into the fabrication method. Sufficient uniformities of the performance parameters (leakage current and capacitance) between detectors and strips are found, demonstrating high-quality and stable mass production. We also search for correlations between detector performance and manufacturing parameters by using data-mining techniques. Conventional multivariate analysis (multiple regression analysis) and machine-learning techniques (regression tree analysis) are complementarily used, and it is found that the Li-drift process makes a significant contribution to the performance parameters of the finished detectors. Detailed investigation of the drift process is performed using environmental data, and physical interpretations are presented. Our results provide valuable insight into the fabrication methods for this kind of large-area Si(Li) detector, and encourages future projects that require large-volume silicon trackers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a fabrication process for lithium-drifted silicon (Si(Li)) detectors that, compared to previous methods, allows for mass production at a higher yield, while providing a large sensitive area and low leakage currents at relatively high temperatures. This design, developed for the unique requirements of the General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) experiment, has an overall diameter of 10 cm, with ∼ 9 cm of active area segmented into 8 readout strips, and an overall thickness of 2.5 mm, with ≳ 2. 2 mm (≳ 90 %) sensitive thickness. An energy resolution ≲ 4 keV full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) for 20 − 100 keV X-rays is required at the operating temperature ∼ − 40 ° C , which is far above the liquid nitrogen temperatures conventionally used to achieve fine energy resolution. High-yield production is also required for GAPS, which consists of ≳ 1000 detectors. Our specially-developed Si crystal and custom methods of Li evaporation, diffusion and drifting allow for a thick, large-area and uniform sensitive layer. We find that retaining a thin undrifted layer on the p -side of the detector drastically reduces the leakage current, which is a dominant component of the energy resolution at these temperatures. A guard-ring structure and optimal etching of the detector surface are also confirmed to suppress the leakage current. We report on the mass production of these detectors that is ongoing now, and demonstrate it is capable of delivering a high yield of ∼ 90 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]