Silicon drift detectors array coupled to scintillators operated with pulse shape discrimination technique: a 1 keV - 1 MeV position sensitive gamma-ray detector

Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) can work both as direct X-ray detectors, exhibiting excellent spectroscopic capabilities in the 1-30 keV energy range, and as photodetectors for scintillators readout. Both these detector concepts can be combined in a single compact device by means of the Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) technique. A complete detection system based on a monolithic 20-channels SDD array coupled to CsI(Tl) scintillating pixels operated with PSD technique has been realized. The instrument description and performance will be presented and discussed, as well as its possible applications as a detection plane for a wide field monitor for forthcoming gamma-ray burst search missions.