Preliminary test results of pixel detectors developed for All-sky X-ray and Gamma-ray Astronomy Monitor (AXGAM)

Abstract

New, high spatial resolution CdZnTe (CZT) and silicon (Si) pixel detectors are developed for high angular and high energy resolution X-ray astronomy. These detectors are proposed for use in wide field-of-view, imaging All-sky X-ray, and Gamma-ray Astronomy Monitor (AXGAM) in a possible future space mission. The high stopping power of CZT detectors combined with low-noise front-end readout electronics ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) makes possible an order of magnitude improvement in spatial (angular) and energy resolution in X-ray detection. The AXGAM instrument will be built in the form of a fine coded mask placed over two-dimensional, high spatial resolution and low energy threshold silicon and CZT pixel detector arrays. The preliminary test results obtained from our first silicon and CZT pixel detectors are presented. These detectors may also be used with or without modification for medical and industrial imaging.