A very fast high-resolution radiation detector for imaging and spectroscopy in the X-ray and optical range including a compact electronic readout system.
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A 1.5 cm2 large pn-CCD with 256 x 256 pixels of 50 µm pixel size mounted on a ceramic substrate and bonded with two CAMEX read out chips. The read out frequence is 400 pictures per second. |
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Active Area |
1-3 cm2 |
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Pixel Size |
36 x 36 µm2 up to 150 x 150 µm2 |
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CCD Geometry |
frame store and image area or image area only |
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Operating Modes |
full frame, frame-store, window modes, continuous readout |
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Read Out Speed |
400 Hz f. 256 x 256 pixels (up to 1 MHz) |
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Elec. Noise |
down to 2.5e- per pixel @190K, tint = 50ms |
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Energy Resolution |
130 eV FWHM @MnK, 190K, , tint = 50ms |
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Sensitivity |
> 90% f.200eV -15KeV |
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The pn-CCD is a challenging device in focus of various science application especially optical and X-ray astronomy as well as material analysis.
For optimum performance and high quantum efficiency the detector is operated in the full depletion mode with a sensitive thickness of 450 µm. Pixel sizes vary between 36 µm and 150 µm. The overall active area of the pn-CCD reaches from 1 cm2 to 3 cm2.
In the past the signal capacitance of the pn-CCD has been continously minimized via the anode and the reset diode size. In this way an electronic noise level of 2 ENC have been reached leading to very good energy resolution values.
The radiation entrance window is homogenous and has been optimized for a high sensitivity either in the low X-ray energy range (< 300 eV) or by an antireflective coating for optical light.
Accordingly the low energy performance of the detector is excellent.

Despite their large active areas the pn-CCDs are almost cosmetically defect free - no bright or bad pixels or bad columns are recorded.
The pn-CCD is read out via the CAMEX chip which has been especially developed in view of this device. Due to the parallel read out of the CAMEX the frame rate is very high (up to 1 MHz). This makes the pn-CCD very attractive for all high count rate applications.
The detector principle of the pn-CCD is described in detail under Detectors and in the Literature.
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The pn-CCD is delivered
Also mechanical parts to attach the CCD to a vacuum chamber and the cooling masks can be delivered. Vacuum flanges are available from any size larger than 100mm inner diameter.
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A complete pn-CCD read out system has been developed together with the Research Facility of Jülich (FZJ) for high-speed high-precision read out and the ease of the customers' use.
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