A model for photon counting X-ray event reconstruction uncertainty

Abstract

Evaluation of detectors for a soft X-ray imaging spectrometer has resulted in the need to understand the effect of charge spreading on apparent detector noise properties, and therefore achievable energy resolution. This paper presents a mathematical model for the processes leading to increased uncertainty within a simplified X-ray reconstruction process. This is a description for additional uncertainty introduced by the process of collecting X-ray generated electrons into a region of noisy pixels and reconstructing the recorded pixels values back into an estimated X-ray energy value. The predictions of the model, and preliminary experimental verification are shown.