AN IMPROVED X-RAY-DETECTOR FOR USE AT SYNCHROTRONS

Due to the advent of synchrotrons as X-ray sources with high power and brilliance new improved X-ray detectors are needed in order to make e fficient use of the unique features of the synchrotron radiation. In t his article the construction and characteristics of an X-ray detector, which is based on image plates and which has been especially designed for the detection of X-ray images at synchrotrons is reported. The de tector has an X-ray sensitive area of 250 mm x 305 mm, and allows the acquisition of X-ray images with variable pixel sizes and readout spee ds according to the requirements of the particular experiment. In the normal setup mode images can be recorded every 13 s using a pixel size of 80 mu m x 80 mu m, which relates to 12 x 10(6) pixels per image, w hile in the high-resolution setup images can be recorded every 41 s wi th 40 mu m x 40 mu m pixel size, which relates to 48 x 10(6) pixels pe r image. The relation of detector characteristics, such as readout spe ed, resolution and efficiency to the physical processes of image stora ge and readout are discussed. Examples of images taken during the firs t test experiment on the high-pressure beamline (ID30) of the ESRF are presented. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.