A 2D smart pixel detector for time-resolved crystallography

Abstract

A smart pixel detector is being developed for time-resolved crystallography for biological and material science applications. Using the pixel detector presented here, the Laue method will enable the study of the evolution of structural changes that occur within a protein as a function of time. The x-ray pixellated detector is assembled to the integrated circuit through a bump bonding process. Within a pixel size of 150×150 mm2, a low-noise preamplifier-shaper, a discriminator, a 3-bit counter and the readout logic are integrated. The readout, based on the column architecture principle, will accept hit rates above 5×108/cm2/s with a maximum hit rate per pixel of 1 MHz. This detector will allow time-resolved Laue crystallography to be performed in a frameless operation mode, without dead time. Target specifications, architecture, and preliminary results on a 8×8 prototype are presented.