What type of energy does a semiconductor detector measure?

A semiconductor detector measures photon energy, which includes the energy associated with gamma rays and X-rays. These detectors operate based on the interaction of photons with the semiconductor material, such as silicon or germanium. When a photon of sufficient energy interacts with the semiconductor, it can create electron-hole pairs, which are then collected to produce a measurable current proportional to the energy of the incoming photon.

This capability makes semiconductor detectors particularly effective for measuring high-energy photons since they have high energy resolution and can provide precise measurements of the energy of incident radiation. In applications ranging from medical imaging to radiation safety, understanding photon energy is essential for accurate detection and quantification of radiation levels.