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High Dynamic Range X-Ray Detector Pixel Architectures Utilizing Charge Removal

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

J.T. Weiss
K.S. Shanks
H.T. Philipp
J. Becker
Darol Chamberlain
P. Purohit
M.W. Tate
Sol Gruner

Abstract

Several charge integrating CMOS pixel front ends utilizing charge removal techniques have been fabricated to extend dynamic range for X-ray diffraction applications at synchrotron sources and X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). The pixels described herein build on the mixed mode pixel array detector (MM-PAD) framework, developed previously by our group to perform high dynamic range imaging. These new pixels boast several orders of magnitude improvement in maximum flux over the MM-PAD, which is capable of measuring a sustained flux in excess of 108 X-rays/pixel/s while maintaining sensitivity to smaller signals, down to single X-rays. To extend dynamic range, charge is removed from the integration node of the front-end amplifier without interrupting integration. The number of times this process occurs is recorded by a digital counter in the pixel. The parameter limiting full well is, thereby, shifted from the size of an integration capacitor to the depth of a digital counter. The result is similar to that achieved by counting pixel array detectors, but the integrators presented here are designed to tolerate a sustained flux >1011 X-rays/pixel/s. Pixel front-end linearity was evaluated by direct current injection and results are presented. A small-scale readout ASIC utilizing these pixel architectures has been fabricated and the use of these architectures to increase single X-ray pulse dynamic range at XFELs is discussed briefly. © 2017 IEEE.

Date Published

Journal

IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

Volume

64

Issue

4

Number of Pages

1101-1107,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018987049&doi=10.1109%2fTNS.2017.2679540&partnerID=40&md5=545968b1e0ce5e455d5051a96fed6cb7

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2017.2679540

Group (Lab)

Sol M. Gruner Group

Funding Source

DMR-1332208
DE-FG02-10ER46693
DE-SC0016035
1332208

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