Project
Radiation tolerant CMOS imagers
CMOS image sensors are widespread these days. But the limited radiation tolerance of image sensors remains a problem for the use of these sensors in particle physics, nuclear energy or space applications This Ph.D. project targets to substantially improve the performance of pixels and image sensor readout circuits operated in environments with a high dose rate and a high total accumulated dose of ionizing radiation. Sources of performance degradation due to radiation will be investigated, experimentally, theoretically and through simulations. Techniques to mitigate effects of radiation on the pixel and readout circuits by means of design or technology changes will be proposed and demonstrated. This work involves pixel design and layout, TCAD and circuit simulations of pixels, development of pixel test structures and lab characterization of radiation tolerant pixels before, during and after radiation.