Developing a high-resolution x-ray imager using electron-multiplying (EM) CCDs

James H. Tutt; David J. Hall; Andrew D. Holland; Neil J. Murray; James Endicott

doi:10.1117/12.2023317

26 September 2013 Developing a high-resolution x-ray imager using electron-multiplying (EM) CCDs

James H. Tutt, David J. Hall, Andrew D. Holland, Neil J. Murray, James Endicott

Proceedings Volume 8852, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XV; 885217 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023317
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Applications at synchrotron facilities such as macromolecular crystallography and high energy X-ray diffraction require high resolution imaging detectors with high dynamic range and large surface area. Current systems can be split into two main categories: hybrid pixel detectors and scintillator-coupled Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs). Whilst both have limitations, CCD-based systems (coupled to fibre-optics to increase imaging area) are often used in these applications due to their small pixels and the high resolution. Electron-Multiplication CCDs (EM-CCDs) are able to suppress the readout noise associated with increased readout speed offering a low noise, high speed detector solution. A previous pilot study using a small-area (8 mm × 8 mm) scintillator-coupled EM-CCD found that through high frame-rates, low noise and novel uses of photon-counting, resolution could be improved from over 80 μm to 25 μm at 2 fps. To further improve this detector system, high speed readout electronics can be used alongside a fibre-optic taper and EM-CCD to create a “best of both worlds” solution consisting of the high resolution of a CCD, along with the low noise, high speed (high dynamic range) and large effective area of pixel detectors. This paper details the developments in the study and discusses the latest results and their implication on the system design.

Citation Download Citation

James H. Tutt, David J. Hall, Andrew D. Holland, Neil J. Murray, and James Endicott "Developing a high-resolution x-ray imager using electron-multiplying (EM) CCDs", Proc. SPIE 8852, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XV, 885217 (26 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023317

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