Multi-layered radiation converter

The invention relates to a multi-layered radiation converter, a radiation detector comprising such a converter as well as a radiation-based imaging system using such a detector. Each converter layer in the radiation converter is adapted for interaction with incident radiation to cause the emission of electrons into drift holes defined in the converter layer. The drift holes of one converter layer (-) are staggered with respect to the drift holes of another converter layer (-). By mutually shifting the converter layers such that the drift holes of two different layers are no longer well-aligned, but rather staggered with respect to each other, the effective conversion area will be increased, and the probability of incoming radiation passing through the stack without interaction with the converter layers will be significantly reduced. In this way, high absorption efficiency for incident radiation inside the multi-layered converter structure is ensured, while still maintaining transparency for emitted electrons through the drift holes.