Final answer:
The purpose of a thin-film transistor in a flat panel detector is to convert electrons into an electric signal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a thin-film transistor in a flat panel detector is to convert electrons into an electric signal. Solid-state radiation detectors, such as thin-film transistors, convert ionization produced in a semiconductor (like those found in computer chips) directly into an electrical signal. When a voltage is applied in a specific direction, current flows only when ionization is produced by radiation, and this current can be used to generate an electric signal.