Radiation hardness of silicon detectors - a challenge from high-energy physics

An overview of the radiation-damage-induced problems connected with the app lication of silicon particle detectors in future high-energy physics experi ments is given. Problems arising from the expected hadron fluences are summ arized and the use of the nonionizing energy loss for normalization of bulk damage is explained. The present knowledge on the deterioration effects ca used by irradiation is described leading to an appropriate modeling. Exampl es are given for a correlation between the change in the macroscopic perfor mance parameters and effects to be seen on the microscopic level by defect analysis. Finally possible ways are out-lined for improving the radiation t olerance of silicon detectors either by operational conditions, process tec hnology or defect engineering. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.