Journals Proceedings

Abstract

The work concentrates on the design of a high voltage supply for silicon drift detector which is a kind of semiconductor X-ray detector. A dc to dc converter is designed that can convert the low voltage of the raw bus to a value (-300V) high enough to make the detector work. It is optimized to have a low mass and power. The design also satisfies some stringent requirements such as corona proof, power bus protection, the automatic reduction of HV applied to the detector when satellite enters into high charge concentrated regions in the sky, in its trajectory. The HV unit is used in space applications so it has to be compact, light in weight and has to consume low power. It must be able to withstand the widely varying temperatures and the harsh radiation conditions of space. The design can produce voltages in the range ±200 to ±2000V with only slight modifications in the circuit thus can be used for any other kind of detector as well.