Keck-PAD Fast-Framing Hybrid X-ray Pixel Array Detector
- Sydor Instruments, LLC, Fairport, NY (United States)
Performance improvements at modern x-ray light sources have opened the door to experiments with temporal resolutions not previously observed. In experiments including the study of complex materials under dynamic loading, detectors are required to have single photon sensitivity, wide dynamic range, and frame rates approaching electron bunch repetition rates. Unfortunately, detector technology currently limits the resolution available in these studies. Sydor Technologies and Cornell University are working to remove this limitation by making the Keck-PAD commercially available. The Keck-PAD was originally conceptualized by the Cornell Detector Group and Sydor has since produced commercial prototypes with Si and CdTe sensor material. It is capable of acquiring up to eight successive images at up to 10 MHz with single x-ray sensitivity, <150 ns timing resolution, and a dynamic range of 103 x-rays/pixel/s. These successive frame rates with customizable exposure time and interframe time with each frame make the Keck-PAD ideal for high speed, single shot experiments in fields ranging from catalysis to ballistics. Early work involved a sensor redesign for two ASICs per sensor in a 4-side tileable arrangement, software and interface hardening, and electronics bring-up. The Cornell prototype was sized at only 256 x 384 pixels. Sydor’s innovative 4-side tileable submodules allowed the Keck-PAD to be scaled up to a 512 x 512 pixel array to accommodate a large range of q-space in a single experiment. The 128 x 256 tileable submodules also allow for future increases or changes in detector array size with minimal mechanical engineering efforts. In addition to the increased detector size, the commercial software and electronics bring a more easily integrated and user-friendly system to beamline scientists. This Phase II has successfully manufactured and tested a commercial-level engineering model Sydor Keck-PAD using Si sensor material. Synchrotron testing validated the expected detector timing and imaging performance at MHz frame rates. Sydor’s experience with pixel array detectors combined with user feedback has identified ways to further improve the design and user interface for the next commercial model. By adjusting requirements and maintaining a product model that is easily upgraded the Sydor Keck-PAD will keep pace with the demands of current and future synchrotron technology.
- Research Organization:
- Sydor Instruments, LLC dba Sydor Technologies
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- Contributing Organization:
- Cornell University
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0013234
- OSTI ID:
- 1658872
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase IIA)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-SYDOR-13234
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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