in phantom by non collecting anode 12 u2032 that is positioned substantially between a pair of collecting anodes 8 alternatively each non collecting anode 12 can be positioned in a plane that extends above the top surfaces of collecting anodes 8 opposite body 2 as shown in fig3 in still yet another alternative each collecting anode 8 can be positioned by insulator 26 above the surface of body 2 anywhere between the positions shown in phantom by non collecting anode 12 u2032 and non collecting anodes 12 provided the collecting anodes 8 lie in a first plane while non collecting anodes 12 lie in a second different plane as can be seen by comparing fig2 and 3 the only difference between the embodiments of radiation detectors 1 and 1 u2032 is the separation of non collecting anodes 12 from the surface of body 2 that includes collecting anodes 8 to this end even the distance of each gap 21 between opposing sides of each pair of adjacent collecting and non collecting anodes 8 and 12 can be the same in the illustrated embodiments of radiation detectors 1 and 1 u2032 in one exemplary embodiment of radiation detector 1 u2032 each collecting anode 8 and non collecting anode 12 is between 20 nm and 1000 nm thick and insulator 26 separating non conducting anodes 12 from body 2 is between 10 nm and 1000 nm thick thus non conducting anodes 12 can be as close as 10 nm to the surface of body 2 that includes collecting anodes 8 or can be as far away as 1000 nm from said surface desirably the portion of insulator 26 separating non collecting anodes 12 from the surface of body 2 is made from a suitable insulator.