XPAD: A photons counting pixel detector for material sciences and small-animal imaging

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2007-03, Vol.572 (1), p.250-253
• Main Authors: Delpierre, P., Basolo, S., Berar, J.-F., Bordesoule, M., Boudet, N., Breugnon, P., Caillot, B., Chantepie, B., Clemens, J.C., Dinkespiler, B., Hustache-Ottini, S., Meessen, C., Menouni, M., Morel, C., Mouget, C., Pangaud, P., Potheau, R., Vigeolas, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CT scanner; Hybrid pixels; Photon counting; Photon detector
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2006.10.315

Experiments on high-flux and high-brilliance third-generation synchrotron X-ray sources are now limited by detector performance. Photon-counting hybrid pixel detectors are being investigated as a solution to improve the dynamic range and the readout speed of the available 2D detectors. The XPAD2 is a large-surface hybrid pixel detector (68×65 mm 2) with a dynamic response, which ranges from 0.01 to 10 6 photons/pixel/s. High-resolution data were recorded using the XPAD2. The comparison with data measured using a conventional setup shows a gain on measurement duration by a factor 20 and on dynamic range. A new generation of pixel detector (XPAD3) is presently under development. For this, a new electronic chip (the XPAD3) is designed to improve spatial resolution by using 130 μm pixels and detector efficiency by using CdTe sensors. XPAD2 is also operated with PIXSCAN, a CT scanner for mice.