SiC Timing Pixel Detector for Fusion Reactor and Beyond

• Xin Shi (IHEP)

The hydrogen boron fusion reaction is a leading aneutronic energy pathway, yet its extreme diagnostic environment—high temperatures and mixed radiation fields of protons, α particles, and γ rays—causes significant degradation in conventional silicon detectors. Silicon carbide (SiC), featuring a wide bandgap and superior radiation hardness, when integrated with a Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) structure for internal gain and pixelated readout, can overcome these limitations. To develop a pixelated SiC LGAD time detector system specifically designed for α particle spectroscopy in hydrogen boron plasmas, the complete system comprises a SiC LGAD sensor, a dedicated readout ASIC, and a data acquisition framework, enabling high timing precision and enhanced signal to noise performance. Beyond hydrogen boron fusion, this detector technology is also promising for applications in high energy physics experiments, space borne radiation monitors, and positron emission tomography, where fast timing and radiation tolerance are essential.