A new type of X-ray area detector utilizing laser stimulated luminescence

Abstract

A conceptually new integrating area (250 mm×200 mm or larger) detector system, originally developed for diagnostic radiography, has been used for synchrotron radiation experiments. In this detector system, an X-ray image is temporarily stored as a distribution of F-centers in a photostimulable phosphor (BaFBr:Eu 2+) screen. The stored image is read out by measuring the intensity of fluorescence ( λ∼390 nm) stimulated by a HeNe laser beam scanned over the surface of the screen. The detector has 100% detective quantum efficiency for 8–17 keV X-rays, a spatial resolution better than 0.2 mm (fwhm) in both directions, a dynamic range of 1:10 5 and no counting rate limitation. Diffraction patterns from muscle and a protein crystal were recorded in several tens times less exposure than that of high-sensitivity X-ray films.