High Throughput Fluorescence Detector Module Using Silicon Drift Detectors and Digital Signal Processing

Approximately 30% of the research carried out at the DOE's four national synchrotron radiation laboratories makes use of x-ray fluorescence analysis. The high-resolution, x-ray-fluorescence detector arrays used in these studies typically have between 13 and 19 channels and are severely rate limited. Since the technology used to produce these detector arrys is not readily scalable to larger channel counts, there is a pressing need to develop a new detector technology that can be reliably scaled to 100 channels or more. This project will develop a rugged, maintainable, self-contained detector-array submodule (the "Septa-Hex") comprizing a close-packed array of 7 hexagonally-shaped high-speed Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) and a complete set of precision digital processing electronics. The Septa-Hex submodules then could be combined to build arbitrarily large fluorescence detector arrays. Phase I will construct a digital pulse processor that meets the tight size constraints, connect it to a single 100 sq-mm SDD, and show that the throughput and energy resolution goals can be met. Based on this experience, a preliminay design of both the 7-channel processor and the front-end detector head will be developed. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should benefit the nation's synchrotron x-ray fluorescence user community, allowing scanning fluorescence analysis to be speeded by a factor of 10. The new detector technology also should be applicable in a variety of industrial analysis and quality control situations, such as in the semiconductor industry where very short measurement times are critical to cost control