The SunSILICON™ and SunSILICON™ P are the next generation of silicon detectors from Sun Nuclear (Mirion Technologies), designed for relative dosimetry in external beam radiation therapy. With High-Equivalence Solid Water™ housing, extended field size range, and superior radiation hardness, they replace the established EDGE Detector™ — now at end of life. Interphysix is the exclusive Sun Nuclear distributor in Portugal.
What are the SunSILICON detectors?
The SunSILICON detectors are p-type silicon diode detectors for relative dosimetry in cylindrical water phantoms. They were designed as the natural evolution of the EDGE Detector, addressing its key limitations: housing material, supported field size range, and correction factors for very small fields.
Two complementary models are available:
- SunSILICON™ (model 1048) — unshielded detector, optimized for small fields and electron dosimetry
- SunSILICON™ P (model 1049) — shielded detector, designed to cover small through large fields up to 40×40 cm
Both models are compatible with the SunSCAN™ 3D and 3D SCANNER™ scanning systems, and with the PC Electrometer™.
Why SunSILICON instead of the EDGE Detector?
The EDGE Detector™ was the industry reference for small field diode measurements for years. However, it has well-known limitations: brass housing introduces significant beam perturbations, correction factors exceed 5% for fields smaller than 0.8 cm, and electron dosimetry support is limited. The EDGE Detector is now officially at end of life (EOL).
The SunSILICON detectors address these limitations with a completely redesigned approach:
| Feature | EDGE Detector | SunSILICON | SunSILICON P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | Brass | HE Solid Water™ | HE Solid Water™ |
| Minimum field size | 0.8 cm | 0.4 cm | 1.2 cm |
| Maximum field size | 10 cm | 10 cm (photons) | 40 cm |
| Electrons | Limited | Yes, up to 40×40 cm | No |
| Correction factors | >5% at <0.8 cm | <2% down to 0.7 cm | <2% up to 40 cm |
| Radiation hardness | Standard | Superior | Superior |
| Leakage current | Standard | Best in class | Best in class |
SunSILICON — For small fields and electrons
The SunSILICON™ (model 1048) is the unshielded detector in the family, optimized for high-resolution measurements in small photon fields and for electron dosimetry across all field sizes.
Key applications:
- SRS/SBRT commissioning — profiles, PDDs, and output factors for fields down to 0.4 cm
- Output factors in small fields with correction factors below 2% down to 0.7 cm
- Electron dosimetry — profiles and PDDs for fields up to 40×40 cm
- Commissioning data verification for photon fields up to 10×10 cm
The HE Solid Water™ housing minimizes beam perturbations, providing more representative measurements than detectors with metallic housing. Superior radiation hardness ensures response stability over time, even with intensive use.
SunSILICON P — For small through large fields
The SunSILICON™ P (model 1049) is the shielded detector in the family, designed to cover the full range of field sizes used in external beam photon therapy — from small fields (1.2 cm) to conventional 40×40 cm fields.
Key applications:
- Full commissioning — profiles and PDDs for all photon field sizes
- Output factors across the full range with correction factors below 2%
- Periodic commissioning data verification
- Measurements for treatment planning system (TPS) validation
The shielding of the SunSILICON P maintains response linearity in large fields, where unshielded detectors typically exhibit over-response to low-energy scattered radiation.
Compatibility with Sun Nuclear systems
The SunSILICON detectors integrate seamlessly into the Sun Nuclear water dosimetry ecosystem:
- SunSCAN™ 3D — high-precision 3D scanning system for water phantoms
- 3D SCANNER™ — large-volume scanning phantom
- PC Electrometer™ — multichannel reference electrometer
- SunDOSE™ — water dosimetry acquisition and analysis software
This compatibility enables a direct transition from the EDGE Detector to SunSILICON without changing existing hardware — simply replace the detector in the scanning system holder.
Clinical validation
The SunSILICON detectors have been extensively characterized and validated in clinical settings:
- Scientific publication: “Characterization of two new unshielded and shielded silicon diode detectors for external beam radiation therapy: SunSILICON and SunSILICON P” — Teresa Anders et al., 2026. An independent characterization study covering linearity, energy dependence, angular dependence, field factors, and comparison with reference ionization chambers.
- Webinar: “Beyond the EDGE” with Dr. Andreas Schönfeld, presenting clinical validation results and the practical transition from the EDGE Detector to SunSILICON.
“These detectors strengthen our portfolio for commissioning electron linear accelerators through superior measurement precision and handling.”
— Gerhard Wessing, Radiologie Vechta
Frequently asked questions about SunSILICON
Does SunSILICON replace the EDGE Detector?
Yes. The SunSILICON detectors are the direct evolution of the EDGE Detector, which is officially at end of life (EOL). SunSILICON offers Solid Water housing (instead of brass), significantly lower correction factors, and extended electron support.
What is the difference between SunSILICON and SunSILICON P?
The SunSILICON (model 1048) is unshielded, optimized for small photon fields (down to 0.4 cm) and electron dosimetry. The SunSILICON P (model 1049) is shielded, covering small fields (1.2 cm) through conventional 40×40 cm photon fields, but is not suitable for electrons.
Is it compatible with my SunSCAN 3D?
Yes. The SunSILICON detectors are fully compatible with SunSCAN 3D, 3D SCANNER, and PC Electrometer. The transition is straightforward — simply replace the detector in the existing holder.
Can I use SunSILICON for electron dosimetry?
The SunSILICON (unshielded, model 1048) is suitable for electron dosimetry in fields up to 40×40 cm. The SunSILICON P (shielded) is not recommended for electron measurements.
What is the smallest field I can measure?
With SunSILICON, you can measure photon fields from 0.4 cm with correction factors below 2% down to 0.7 cm. SunSILICON P allows measurements from 1.2 cm.
Is it available in Portugal?
Yes. Interphysix is the exclusive Sun Nuclear distributor in Portugal. Contact us for availability, demonstrations, and quotes.
Interested in SunSILICON detectors? Contact Interphysix for more information, demonstrations, or quotes. Also visit our page about Sun Nuclear in Portugal.
Última actualização: 20/03/2026