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QTKorea Develops Radiation-Resistant Photodetector Semiconductor Prototypes, Targets 2027 Commercialization
Chips2 min read
QTKorea, a Korean quantum communication and quantum sensor company, has built six prototypes of a light-detecting chip that keeps working well in strong radiation. The company plans to sell it to particle accelerators and medical particle therapy equipment, with commercial launch targeted for the end of 2027.
What happened
QTKorea said it has made six prototype light-detection semiconductors. These chips are designed to measure accurately even in places with strong radiation. They are made from compound semiconductors using indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs). The company wants to enter the markets for particle accelerators and medical devices that use particle beams.
How light detectors work
A light detector is a part that senses faint light and turns it into an electric signal. In a particle accelerator, scientists measure the light made when particles hit a material. This helps them study how the particles move and behave. The big problem is radiation. Older silicon detectors can get damaged after long exposure to strong radiation. Then they make more noise and work worse, so they need cooling or shielding. CERN, the European particle physics lab, also lists this problem as a major technical challenge.
Key facts
- Six prototypes in total: four single-detector sizes, a 10×10 array with 100 detectors, and a 20×20 array with 400 detectors.
- The 400-detector array uses a mesa structure, which separates each detection area so each one can be driven and read on its own.
- In theory, the company expects neutron tolerance more than 1 million times higher than silicon.
- Commercial launch target: end of 2027.
Why it matters
If the chips work as hoped, they could make particle research and cancer treatment equipment simpler. They might not need as much cooling or shielding. The company still needs to prove its claims with radiation tests. The results will decide whether customers buy the detectors.
What to watch
- Radiation durability and light-detection tests on the prototypes.
- Joint tests with major accelerator labs such as CERN.
- Talks with customers about supplying detector modules.
- Expansion into beam-position checks for proton and heavy-ion therapy, and into space and underwater optical communication.
Glossary
- InGaP
- Indium gallium phosphide, a compound semiconductor material used to detect light.
- GaAs
- Gallium arsenide, a compound semiconductor material that handles radiation well.
- CERN
- The European Organization for Nuclear Research, a major European particle physics lab.