Advanced Detectors For X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) System

The goal of the proposed work is to develop a novel, large-area, high energy-resolution analytical x-ray detection system for x-ray powder diffraction applications, capable of operating at count rates >1MHz. The proposed system is based on silicon drift detectors (SDD) specifically designed for installation on a Bragg-Brentano diffractometer, which will provide orders of magnitude advancement in performance compared to current energy dispersive semiconductor x-ray detectors, and greater than a factor of two improvement in efficiency compared with the current graphite monochromator combined with proportional counter systems. In Phase 1, the detector package (based on our current 50 mm2 SDD) and preamplifier will be developed and optimized for the high-count rate operation. Low noise amplification electronics, detector bias voltages, Peltier cooling and a miniaturized hermetic capsule will be developed. In Phase 2, we will finalize the development of the detector with an optimized device with the required dimensions of ~ 5 mm x 20 mm, detector package and supporting electronics and software. The detector system will be tested at Photon