Advances in silicon detectors for particle tracking in extreme radiation environments

The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is currently under construction at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics based in Geneva. The experiments at this accelerator will use substantial numbers of silicon detectors. These are close to the interaction point and will be exposed to very high fluences ( up to 10**1**5 particles cm**-**2) during their operating life. Such detectors are crucial to the disentanglement of important decay events and it is vital to guarantee a homogeneous reliable performance during their operation. Parameters like the charge collection efficiency (CCE) and response time will be discussed. Limitations of present technologies will be analysed and future strategies explored. Results obtained using alternative detector designs, such as 3D geometry, material engineering by oxygen diffusion and unconventional operational conditions are surveyed.