Large area particle detector system

An improved method and apparatus for detecting and storing for later readout the impingement of certain nuclear particles utilizing a particle detector system having a large area particle detector including a thin or thick film of electron trapping material is disclosed, in which, upon impingement or detection of a nuclear particle, electrons contained in the electron trapping material jump to a higher energy level and a luminescence of a predetermined wavelength is given off by the large area particle detector. The detector may later be subjected to infrared or near-infrared pulsed radiation which will cause the release of photon luminescence of a predetermined wavelength at a position and intensity corresponding to the impinged particles, which can be detected by a suitable sensor and analyzed by a microcomputer. Particle detectors of area of at least 100 cm2 are disclosed.