The Simbol-X Cd(Zn)Te detector

The astrophysics community needs an instrument to gain more insight in the origin of the cosmic X-ray background in the energy range between 0.5 to 80 keV. Existing instruments like Chandra and XMM-Newton show good results up to 10 keV but lack sensitivity above. In order to keep or improve the same performances up to 80 keV, grazing incidence mirrors with a focal length of at least 20 m should be used. Since satellites this big cannot be launched with existing launchers, the mirror and detector must be placed on two different satellites flying in formation. The Simbol-X space mission will be the first project of this type. A crucial element is the High Energy Detector, a hybridisation of the IDeF-X read-out electronics and Cd(Zn)Te semiconductor crystals, operating in the energy range from 5 to 80 keV. This work presents the results of characterisation measurements of electronics and crystals, related to pixel leakage currents, spectroscopy and the development of a complete detector simulation program.