Digital performance improvements of a CdTe pixel detector for high flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging

Abstract Photon counting detectors with energy resolving capabilities are desired for high flux X-ray imaging. In this work, we present the performance of a pixelated Schottky Al/p-CdTe/Pt detector (4×4) coupled to a custom-designed digital readout electronics for high flux measurements. The detector (4×4×2 mm 3 ) has an anode layout based on an array of 16 pixels with a geometric pitch of 1 mm (pixel size of 0.6 mm). The 4-channel readout electronics is able to continuously digitize and process the signals from each pixel, performing multi-parameter analysis (event arrival time, pulse shape, pulse height, pulse time width, etc.) even at high fluxes and at different throughput and energy re…

Laboratorio a contaminazione controllata per tecniche fisiche applicate ai beni culturali

A Very Large Area Telescope for γ-Ray Astronomy Above 100 MeV Employing Limited Streamer Tubes

A new detector for γ-ray astronomy above 100 MeV is described in which the electron-positron pairs are tracked by means of a set of plane arrays of Limited Streamer Tubes. This technique allows to build up very large area experiments which are specifically useful to study variable or transient sources.

Hard X-Ray Response of Pixellated CdZnTe Detectors

In recent years, the development of cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) detectors for x-ray and gamma ray spectrometry has grown rapidly. The good room temperature performance and the high spatial resolution of pixellated CdZnTe detectors make them very attractive in space-borne x-ray astronomy, mainly as focal plane detectors for the new generation of hard x-ray focusing telescopes. In this work, we investigated on the spectroscopic performance of two pixellated CdZnTe detectors coupled with a custom low noise and low power readout application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The detectors (10x10x1 and 10x10x2 mm3 single crystals) have an anode layout based on an array of 256 pixels with a …

A digital approach for real time high-rate high-resolution radiation measurements

Abstract Modern spectrometers are currently developed by using digital pulse processing (DPP) systems, showing several advantages over traditional analog electronics. The aim of this work is to present digital strategies, in a time domain, for the development of real time high-rate high-resolution spectrometers. We propose a digital method, based on the single delay line (SDL) shaping technique, able to perform multi-parameter analysis with high performance even at high photon counting rates. A robust pulse shape and height analysis (PSHA), applied on single isolated time windows of the detector output waveforms, is presented. The potentialities of the proposed strategy are highlighted thro…

Electrical Characterization of CdTe pixel detectors with Al Schottky anode

Abstract Pixelated Schottky Al/p-CdTe/Pt detectors are very attractive devices for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic imaging, even though they suffer from bias-induced time instability (polarization). In this work, we present the results of the electrical characterization of a (4×4) pixelated Schottky Al/p-CdTe/Pt detector. Current–voltage ( I–V ) characteristics and current transients were investigated at different temperatures. The results show deep levels that play a dominant role in the charge transport mechanism. The conduction mechanism is dominated by the space charge limited current (SCLC) both under forward bias and at high reverse bias. Schottky barrier height of the Al/CdTe con…

M-VIF: A machine-vision based on information fusion

The authors describe a new architecture for machine vision, which is based on information fusion approach. Its general design has been developed by using a formal computation model that integrates three main ingredients of the visual computation: the data, the models, and the algorithms. The hardware design and the software environment of M-VIF are also given. The simulation of M-VIF is under development on the HERMIA-machine.

Performance of a digital CdTe X-ray spectrometer in low and high counting rate environment

Abstract The high performances of CdTe detectors for X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopy are already well known. Among the traditional semiconductor spectrometers, CdTe detectors show high detection efficiency and good room temperature performance and are well suited for the development of compact detection systems. In this work, we investigated the performance of a CdTe detector coupled with a custom digital pulse processing (DPP) system for X-ray spectroscopy. The DPP method, implemented on a PC platform, performs a pile-up inspection and a pulse height analysis of the preamplifier output pulses, digitized by a 14-bit, 100 MHz ADC. The spectroscopic results point out the excellent performanc…

High Bias Voltage CZT Detectors for High-flux Measurements

In this work, we present the performance of new travelling heater method (THM) grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy. Thick planar detectors (3 mm thick) with gold electroless contacts on CZT crystals grown by Redlen Technologies (Victoria BC, Canada) were realized, with a planar cathode covering the detector surface (4.1 x 4.1 mm(2)) and a central anode (2 x 2 mm(2)) surrounded by a guard ring electrode. The detectors, characterized by low leakage currents at room temperature (4.7 nA/cm(2) at 1000 V/cm), allow good room temperature operation even at high bias voltages (> 7000 V/cm). At low rates, the detectors exhibit an energy resolution around 4 % FWIEM at 59.5…

Digital CZT detector system for high flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging

Photon counting arrays with energy resolving capabilities are recently desired for the next-generation X-ray imaging systems. In this work, we present the performance of a 2 mm thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 mu m and 250 mu m, coupled to a fast and low noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized by only the preamplifier stage. A 16-channel digital readout electronics was used to continuously digitize and process each output channel from the PIXIE ASIC, performing multi-parameter analysis (event arrival time, pulse shape, pulse height) at low and high input counting rates (ICRs). The spectroscopic response of the system to monochromatic X-ray and gamma ray sources, at both lo…

High-rate dead-time corrections in a general purpose digital pulse processing system

The abilities on dead-time correction of a real-time digital pulse processing (DPP) system for high-rate high-resolution radiation measurements are presented. The DPP system, through a fast and slow analysis of the output waveform from radiation detectors, is able to perform an accurate estimation of the true input counting rate (ICR), a fine pulse height (energy) and shape (peaking time) analysis even at high ICRs.

Direct Measurement of Mammographic X-Ray Spectra with a Digital CdTe Detection System

In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate X-ray spectroscopy in mammography (1–30 keV). The DPP system performs a height and shape analysis of the detector pulses, sampled and digitized by a 14-bit, 100 MHz ADC. We show the results of the characterization of the detection system both at low and high photon counting rates by using monoenergetic X-ray sources and a nonclinical X-ray tube. The detection system exhibits excellent performance up to 830 kcps with an energy resolution of 4.5% FWHM at 22.1 keV. Direct measurements of clinical molybdenum X-ray spectra were carried out by using a pinhole…

Spectroscopic response of a CdZnTe multiple electrode detector

Abstract The spectroscopic performances of a CdZnTe detector (crystal size: 5×5×0.9 mm 3 ) with five electrodes (cathode, anode and three steering electrodes) were studied. The anode layout, which consists of a circular electrode ( φ =80 μm) surrounded by two ring electrodes (gap=100 μm; radial width Δ r =100 μm) and by one electrode that extends to the edge of the crystal, is mostly sensitive to the electron carriers, overcoming the well known effect of the hole trapping in the measured spectra. We report on the spectroscopic response of the detector at different bias voltages of the electrodes and at various photon energies ( 109 Cd, 241 Am and 57 Co sources). The CdZnTe detector exhibits…

A model of M87 nuclear emission without ADAF

We present a simple physical model of the central source emission in the M87 galaxy. It is well known that the observed X‐ray luminosity from this galactic nucleus is much lower than the predicted one, if a standard radiative efficiency is assumed. Up to now the main model invoked to explain such a luminosity is the ADAF (Advection‐Dominated‐Accretion‐Flow) model. Our approach supposes only a simple axis‐symmetric adiabatic accretion with a low angular momentum together with the bremsstrahlung emission process in the accreting gas. With no other special hypothesis on the dynamics of the system, this model agrees well enough with the luminosity value measured by Chandra.

Development of new CdZnTe detectors for room-temperature high-flux radiation measurements

Recently, CdZnTe (CZT) detectors have been widely proposed and developed for room-temperature X-ray spectroscopy even at high fluxes, and great efforts have been made on both the device and the crystal growth technologies. In this work, the performance of new travelling-heater-method (THM)-grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy, is presented. Thick planar detectors (3 mm thick) with gold electroless contacts were realised, with a planar cathode covering the detector surface (4.1 mm × 4.1 mm) and a central anode (2 mm × 2 mm) surrounded by a guard-ring electrode. The detectors, characterized by low leakage currents at room temperature (4.7 nA cm−2 at 1000 V cm−1), a…

Digital Techniques for High-Rate High-Resolution Radiation Measurements

Digital pulse processing (DPP) techniques are increasingly used in the development of modern spectroscopic systems. DPP systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals (preamplifier output signals), ensure higher flexibility, stability, lower dead time, higher throughput and better energy resolution than traditional pulse processing systems. In this work, we present our progress in the development of DPP systems for high-rate high-resolution radiation measurements. An innovative digital system, able to perform multi-parameter analysis (input counting rate, pulse height, pulse shape, event arrival time, etc.) even at high photon counting rates is presented. Experimenta…

Characterization of Al-Schottky CdTe detectors

In the last decades, great efforts are being devoted to the development of CdTe detectors for high resolution X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopy. Recently, new rectifying contacts based on aluminum (Al) are very appealing in the development of CdTe detectors with low leakage currents and anode pixellization. In this work, we report on preliminary results of electrical and spectroscopic investigations on Schottky CdTe diode detectors (4.1 × 4.1 × 0.75 and 4.1 × 4.1 × 2 mm3) with Au/Ti/Al/CdTe/Pt electrode configuration. The detectors are characterized by very low leakage currents even at room temperature (26 pA at 25 °C under a bias voltage of −100 V for the 2 mm thick detector). Polarization …

Experimental results from Al/p-CdTe/Pt X-ray detectors

Recently, Al/CdTe/Pt detectors have been proposed for the development of high resolution X-ray spectrometers. Due to the low leakage currents, these detectors allow high electric fields and the pixellization of anodes with the possibility to realize single charge carrier sensing detectors. In this work, we report on the results of electrical and spectroscopic investigations on CdTe diode detectors with Al/CdTe/Pt electrode configuration (4.1×4.1×0.75 and 4.1×4.1×2 mm3). The detectors are characterized by very low leakage currents in the reverse bias operation: 0.3 nA at 25 °C and 2.4 pA at -25 °C under a bias voltage of -1000 V. The spectroscopic performance of the detectors at both low and…

Dual-polarity pulse processing and analysis for charge-loss correction in cadmium–zinc–telluride pixel detectors

Charge losses at the inter-pixel gap are typical drawbacks in cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors. In this work, an original technique able to correct charge losses occurring after the application of charge-sharing addition (CSA) is presented. The method, exploiting the strong relation between the energy after CSA and the beam position at the inter-pixel gap, allows the recovery of charge losses and improvements in energy resolution. Sub-millimetre CZT pixel detectors were investigated with both uncollimated radiation sources and collimated synchrotron X-rays, at energies below and above the K-shell absorption energy of the CZT material. The detectors are DC coupled to fast and low…

Study of spectral response of a CZT multiple-electrode detectors

Digital filtering and analysis for a semiconductor X-ray detector data acquisition

Abstract Pile-up distortion is a major drawback in X-ray spectroscopy at high count rate. Pulse width narrowing with shaping techniques can lead to the reduction of the pile-up distortion, but a low shaping time reduces the noise filtration and leads to a poor energy resolution. Thus, only a best compromise solution between the pile-up and the noise requirements is achievable. The hardware manipulation needed to adjust the parameters of the traditional electronic shaping amplifiers makes it uneasy to tests various settings in different conditions. Digital techniques can help to overcome such difficulties. A digital signal processing and analysis system for X-ray spectroscopy is described in…

Imaging Performance of FIGARO-IV, A Large Area γ-Ray Telescope Above 100 MeV.

We are developing a new telescope, named FIGARO-IV, for γ-ray astronomy above 100 MeV, in which the electron-positron pairs, produced by photons in lead converters, are tracked in several independent planes of Limited Streamer Tubes (LST). Because of its large sensitive area and good angular resolution, this telescope is well suitable, and competitive with respect to satellite-based detectors as EGRET, to localise discrete γ-ray sources in a relatively short observation time, to detect high-energy γ-ray bursts and to investigate both periodic and random time variability on -ray sources.

A Simple Model of Radiative Emission in M87

We present a simple physical model of the central source emission in the M87 galaxy. It is well known that the observed X-ray luminosity from this galactic nucleus is much lower than the predicted one, if a standard radiative efficiency is assumed. Up to now the main model invoked to explain such a luminosity is the ADAF (Advection-Dominated-Accretion-Flow) model. Our approach supposes only a simple axis-symmetric adiabatic accretion with a low angular momentum together with the bremsstrahlung emission process in the accreting gas. With no other special hypothesis on the dynamics of the system, this model agrees well enough with the luminosity value measured by Chandra.

Electrical properties of Au/CdZnTe/Au detectors grown by the boron oxide encapsulated Vertical Bridgman technique

Abstract In this work we report on the results of electrical characterization of new CdZnTe detectors grown by the Boron oxide encapsulated Vertical Bridgman technique (B-VB), currently produced at IMEM-CNR (Parma, Italy). The detectors, with gold electroless contacts, have different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm) and the same electrode layout, characterized by a central anode surrounded by a guard-ring electrode. Investigations on the charge transport mechanisms and the electrical contact properties, through the modeling of the measured current–voltage ( I – V ) curves, were performed. Generally, the detectors are characterized by low leakage currents at high bias voltages even at room tempera…

Parallelization of a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic Code for Simulation of Shocks in Accretion Disks

Investigation on pixellated CZT detectors coupled with a low power readout ASIC

In this work, we investigated on the spectroscopic performances of two pixellated CZT detectors coupled with a custom low noise and low power readout ASIC. The detectors (10 x 10 x 1 mm3 and 10 x 10 x 2 mm3 single crystals) consist of an array of 256 pixels with a geometric pitch of 0.5 mm. The ASIC, fabricated in 0.8 μm BiCMOS technology, is equipped with eight independent channels (preamplifier and shaper) characterized by a dynamic range from 10 keV to 100 keV, low power consumption (0.5 mW/channel) and low noise (150–500 electrons r.m.s.). The spectroscopic results point out the good energy resolution of both detectors at room temperature (5.8 % FWHM at 59.5 keV for the 1 mm thick detec…

High-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography with a CdTe detector: A digital pulse processing approach

Purpose:Direct measurement of mammographic x-ray spectra under clinical conditions is a difficult task due to the high fluence rate of the x-ray beams as well as the limits in the development of high resolution detection systems in a high counting rate environment. In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography. Methods: The DPP system performs a digital pile-up inspection and a digital pulse height analysis of the detector signals, digitized through a 14-bit, 100 MHz digitizer, for x-ray spectroscopy even at high photon counting rates. We investigated on the respon…

High-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography with a CdTe detector: A digital pulse processing approach

Purpose:Direct measurement of mammographic x-ray spectra under clinical conditions is a difficult task due to the high fluence rate of the x-ray beams as well as the limits in the development of high resolution detection systems in a high counting rate environment. In this work we present a detection system, based on a CdTe detector and an innovative digital pulse processing (DPP) system, for high-rate x-ray spectroscopy in mammography. Methods: The DPP system performs a digital pile-up inspection and a digital pulse height analysis of the detector signals, digitized through a 14-bit, 100 MHz digitizer, for x-ray spectroscopy even at high photon counting rates. We investigated on the respon…

Digital Pulse-Processing Techniques for X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Semiconductor Detectors

Over the last decade, digital pulse-processing (DPP) electronics have been widely proposed and used for new generation x- and gamma-ray spectrometers. DPP systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals, lead to better results than the traditional analog pulse-processing electronics in terms of stability, flexibility, reproducibility, energy resolution, throughput, and dead time. In this chapter, we will review the principles of operation of conventional analog electronic chains for x- and gamma-ray semiconductor detectors, with special emphasis on the benefits of the digital approach. The characteristics of a new real-time DPP system, developed by our group, are disc…

Ballistic Deficit Pulse Processing in Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Pixel Detectors for High-Flux X-ray Measurements.

High-flux X-ray measurements with high-energy resolution and high throughput require the mitigation of pile-up and dead time effects. The reduction of the time width of the shaped pulses is a key approach, taking into account the distortions from the ballistic deficit, non-linearity, and time instabilities. In this work, we will present the performance of cadmium–zinc–telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors equipped with digital shapers faster than the preamplifier peaking times (ballistic deficit pulse processing). The effects on energy resolution, throughput, energy-linearity, time stability, charge sharing, and pile-up are shown. The results highlight the absence of time instabilities …

Energy resolution and throughput of a new real time digital pulse processing system for x-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors

New generation spectroscopy systems have advanced towards digital pulse processing (DPP) approaches. DPP systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals, have recently been favoured over analog pulse processing electronics, ensuring higher flexibility, stability, lower dead time, higher throughput and better spectroscopic performance. In this work, we present the performance of a new real time DPP system for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors. The system is based on a commercial digitizer equipped with a custom DPP firmware, developed by our group, for on-line pulse shape and height analysis. X-ray and gamma ray spectra measurements with cadmium telluride (Cd…

Charge carrier transport mechanisms in CdZnTe detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique

In this work, we report on the results of electrical characterization of CdZnTe (CZT) detectors, with gold electroless contacts, grown by the boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman technique (B-VB), currently produced at IMEM-CNR (Parma, Italy). The detectors, with different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm), have the same electrode layout: the anode is a central electrode (2 x 2 mm(2)) surrounded by a guard ring electrode. The cathode is a planar electrode covering the detector surface (4.1 x 4.1 mm(2)). Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics were measured at different temperatures in order to study the charge transport and the electrical properties. These detectors were compared with the trav…

Energy Recovery of Multiple Charge Sharing Events in Room Temperature Semiconductor Pixel Detectors

Multiple coincidence events from charge-sharing and fluorescent cross-talk are typical drawbacks in room-temperature semiconductor pixel detectors. The mitigation of these distortions in the measured energy spectra, using charge-sharing discrimination (CSD) and charge-sharing addition (CSA) techniques, is always a trade-off between counting efficiency and energy resolution. The energy recovery of multiple coincidence events is still challenging due to the presence of charge losses after CSA. In this work, we will present original techniques able to correct charge losses after CSA even when multiple pixels are involved. Sub-millimeter cadmium–zinc–telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors we…

A heterogeneous and reconfigurable machine-vision system

This paper describes a new machine-vision system, a HERMIA heterogeneous and reconfigurable machine for image analysis. The architecture topology of the HERMIA machine is reconfigurable; moreover, the integration of its special modules allows a search for optimal strategies to solve vision problems. The general architecture and the hardware implementation are described. The software environment of the HERMIA machine provides a full iconic interface and a pictorial language oriented to vision in multiprocessor architectures. The preliminary system evaluation and applications are shown. © 1995 Springer-Verlag.

Charge Sharing and Cross Talk Effects in High-Z and Wide-Bandgap Compound Semiconductor Pixel Detectors

Intense research activities have been made in the development of high-Z and wide-bandgap compound semiconductor pixel detectors for the next generation X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopic imagers. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium-zinc-telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors have shown impressive performance in X-ray and gamma ray detection from energies of few keV up to 1 MeV. Charge sharing and cross-talk phenomena represent the typical drawbacks in sub-millimeter pixel detectors, with severe distortions in both energy and spatial resolution. In this chapter, we review the effects of these phenomena on the response of CZT/CdTe pixel detectors, with particular emphasis on the current st…

Spectroscopic response and charge transport properties of CdZnTe detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique

In this work, we present the results of spectroscopic investigations on CdZnTe (CZT) detectors grown by the boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman technique (1MEM-CNR, Parma, Italy). The detectors, with different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm), are characterized by the same electrode layout (gold electroless contacts): the anode is a central electrode (2 x 2 mm(2)) surrounded by a guard-ring electrode, while the cathode is a planar electrode covering the detector surface (4.1 x 4.1 mm(2)). The results of electrical investigations point out the low leakage currents of these detectors even at high bias voltages: 38 nA/cm(2) (T = 25 degrees C) at 10000 V/cm. The time stability and the spectros…

Potentialities of High-Resolution 3-D CZT Drift Strip Detectors for Prompt Gamma-Ray Measurements in BNCT

Recently, new high-resolution cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) drift strip detectors for room temperature gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging were developed by our group. The CZT detectors equipped with orthogonal anode/cathode collecting strips, drift strips and dedicated pulse processing allow a detection area of 6 × 20 mm2 and excellent room temperature spectroscopic performance (0.82% FWHM at 661.7 keV). In this work, we investigated the potentialities of these detectors for prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (PGS) in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The detectors, exploiting the measurement of the 478 keV prompt gamma rays emitted by 94% 7Li nuclides from the 10B(n, α)7…

Why Canonical Disks Cannot Produce Advection-dominated Flows

Using simple arguments we show that the canonical thin keplerian accretion disks cannot smoothly match any plain advection dominated flow (ADAF) model. By 'plain' ADAF model we mean the ones with zero cooling. The existence of sonic points in exact solutions is critical and imposes constraints that cannot be surpassed adopting 'reasonable' physical conditions at the hypothetical match point. Only the occurrence of new critical physical phenomena may produce a transition. We propose that exact advection models are a class of solutions which don't necessarily involve the standard thin cool disks and suggest a different scenario in which good ADAF solutions could eventually occur.

High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy with Compound Semiconductor Detectors and Digital Pulse Processing Systems

The advent of semiconductor detectors has revolutionized the broad field of X-ray spectroscopy. Semiconductor detectors, originally developed for particle physics, are now widely used for X-ray spectroscopy in a large variety of fields, as X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray astronomy and diagnostic medicine. The success of semiconductor detectors is due to several unique properties that are not available with other types of detectors: the excellent energy resolution, the high detection efficiency and the possibility of development of compact detection systems. Among the semiconductors, silicon (Si) detectors are the key detectors in the soft X-ray band (15 keV) and will continue to be the c…

Un sistema digitale innovativo per la caratterizzazione energia-flusso di fasci X diagnostici

La conoscenza della distribuzione energetica e del rateo di fluenza dei fasci X è essenziale nei controlli di qualità in medicina diagnostica, sia in termini dosimetrici che della qualità delle immagini. Gli spettri energetici possono essere utilizzati per stime accurate delle tensioni dei tubi (kVp), per la correzione di distorsioni dovute al beam-hardening e per la corretta implementazione delle nuove tecniche dual-energy [1]. In mammografia, gli spettri energetici possono essere usati per stimare l’esposizione, il kerma in aria e la distribuzione energetica della dose assorbita nei tessuti, superando gli inconvenienti dovuti alla dipendenza energetica della risposta dei dosimetri (a stat…

Real time digital pulse processing for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors

Abstract Digital pulse processing (DPP) systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals, have recently been favoured over analog electronics, ensuring higher flexibility, stability, lower dead time and better spectroscopic performance. In this work, we present the performance of a new real time DPP system for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors. The system is based on a commercial digitizer equipped with a custom DPP firmware, developed by our group, for on-line pulse height and shape analysis. X-ray and gamma ray spectra measurements with cadmium telluride (CdTe) and germanium (Ge) detectors highlight the excellent performance of the system both at low and hi…

Room-Temperature X-ray response of cadmium-zinc-Telluride pixel detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique

In this work, the spectroscopic performances of new cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors recently developed at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) are presented. Sub-millimetre arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 µm, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman grown CZT crystals, were fabricated. Excellent room-temperature performance characterizes the detectors even at high-bias-voltage operation (9000 V cm−1), with energy resolutions (FWHM) of 4% (0.9 keV), 1.7% (1 keV) and 1.3% (1.6 keV) at 22.1, 59.5 and 122.1 keV, respectively. Charge-sharing investigations were performed with both uncollimated and collimated synchrotron X-ray beams with particular attention to the mitigation o…

Digital pulse processing techniques for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors

Digital pulse processing (DPP) systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals, have recently been favoured over analog electronics, ensuring higher flexibility, stability and lower dead time. We present our research activities on the development of X-ray and gamma ray spectrometers based on semiconductor detectors and DPP systems. We developed off-line and real-time DPP systems able to perform precise height and shape analysis of detector pulses. X-ray and gamma ray spectra measurements with cadmium telluride (CdTe) and germanium (Ge) detectors highlight the excellent performance of the systems both at low and high rate environments (up to 800 kcps).

The "Livio Scarsi" X-Ray Facility at University of Palermo for Device Testing

In this work, we report on the characteristics of the Livio Scarsi X-ray facility at University of Palermo. The facility is able to produce low energy X rays, within the energy range of 0.1-60 keV, with fluence rates ranging from 105-108 photons/mm2 s. The laboratory is equipped with an innovative digital detection system, based on semiconductor detectors (Si and CdTe detectors), able to provide accurate and precise estimation of the fluence rate, the energy and the exposure of X rays, even at high counting rate conditions. Instrumentation for electrical characterization (DC-AC) of semiconductor devices, for both off-line and on-line (i.e. during the irradiation) measurements, is also avail…

X-ray response of CdZnTe detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique: Energy, temperature and high flux effects

Abstract Nowadays, CdZnTe (CZT) is one of the key materials for the development of room temperature X-ray and gamma ray detectors and great efforts have been made on both the device and the crystal growth technologies. In this work, we present the results of spectroscopic investigations on new boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman (B-VB) grown CZT detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR Parma, Italy. Several detectors, with the same electrode layout (gold electroless contacts) and different thicknesses (1 and 2.5 mm), were realized: the cathode is a planar electrode covering the detector surface (4.1×4.1 mm2), while the anode is a central electrode (2×2 mm2) surrounded by a guard-rin…

Perspectives

We discuss a special case of formation of axisymmetric shocks in the accretion flow of ideal gas onto a Schwarzschild black hole: when the total energy of the flow is negative. The result of our analysis enlarges the parameter space for which these steady shocks are exhibited in the accretion of gas rotating around relativistic stellar objects. Since keplerian disks have negative total energy, we guess that, in this energy range, the production of the shock phenomenon might be easier than in the case of positive energy. So our outcome reinforces the view that sub-keplerian flows of matter may significantly affect the physics of the high energy radiation emission from black hole candidates. …

Integration of a structural features-based preclassifier and a man-machine interactive classifier for a fast multi-stroke character recognition

A transputer-based parallel machine for handwritten character recognition is proposed. An algorithm based on structural features and on a tree classifier was used to accomplish the pre-classification of the unknown sample in order to speed up the recognition process. The algorithm for the final classification is based on the description of the strokes through Fourier descriptors. The learning phase is accomplished through a man-machine interactive process. The proposed system can expand its knowledge base. A special representation of this knowledge base is proposed in order to record a great amount of data in a suitable way. A fast multistroke handwritten isolated character recognition syst…

Low Level Languages for the PAPIA Machine

The paper presents the low-level languages implemented up to date to program the PAPIA machine. The parallel assembly-level P-MAGRO package, the microcode level instruction set and a machine simulating environment are described.

A new heterogeneous and reconfigurable architecture for image analysis

In the paper a new architecture for image analysis: HERMIA (Heterogeneous and Reconfigurable Machine for Image Analysis) is presented. It has bt:en developed at the University of Palermo, inside the Progetto Finalizzato of the ltalian Council of Researches (CNR): Sistemi informatici e Calcolo Parallelo. The architecture of the HERMIA-machine is reconfigurable, moreover the integration of heterogeneous module, oriented to the solution of specific problems, allows to salve complex problems by search of optimal strategies. Signa! processing units allows the user to handle and integrate multi-sensors signals (from video, scanner, music recorder). Here the generai architecture, the hardware impl…

Microscale X-ray mapping of CZT arrays: Spatial dependence of amplitude, shape and multiplicity of detector pulses

In this work, we present the results of a microscale X-ray mapping of a 2 mm thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 μm and 250 μm, using collimated synchrotron X-ray sources at the Diamond Light source (U. K.). The detector is dc coupled to a fast and low noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized only by the preamplifier stage. A custom 16-channel digital readout electronics was used, able to perform online fast pulse shape and height analysis (PSHA), with low dead time and reasonable energy resolution at both low and high fluxes. The detector allows high bias voltage operation (> 5000 V/cm) and good energy resolution at room temperature (5.3 %, 2.3 % and 2.1 % FWHM at 22.1, 59…

New Results on High-Resolution 3-D CZT Drift Strip Detectors

Intense research activities have been carry out in the development of room temperature gamma ray spectroscopic imagers, aiming to compete with the excellent energy resolution of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors (0.3 % FWHM at 662 keV) obtained after cryogenic cooling. Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) detectors equipped with pixel, strip and virtual Frisch-grid electrode structures represented an appealing solution for room temperature measurements. In this work, we present the performance of new high-resolution CZT drift strip detectors (19.4 x 19.4 x 6 mm3), recently fabricated at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) in collaboration with due2lab company (Reggio Emilia, Italy). The detectors, worki…

The FIGARO II experiment: a general outline of the mission and the principal scientific results

The FIGARO II (French Italian Gamma-Ray Observatory) experiment has been launched successfully three times: in July 1986 from Milo (Trapani), in November 1988 from Charleville (Australia) and in July 1990 again from Milo. In the first flight the observational program was limited to the Crab pulsar PSR0531+21 only because of a telemetry failure: the high sensitivity of FIGARO II allowed an accurate study of the pulse shape as well as a phase-resolved spectroscopy. It was also possible to evaluate the dispersion measure of the Crab pulsar at the flight date from the time delay between gamma-ray and radio pulses. The major results of the second flight were a stringent upper limit to the low-en…

CDTE AND CDZNTE PIXEL DETECTORS FOR X-RAY SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) wide band gap semiconductors for x-ray detectors have experienced a rather rapid development in the last few years. Among the traditional x-ray detectors based on silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), CdTe and CdZnTe detectors show higher detection efficiency at high energies and good room temperature performance and are well suited for the development of compact detection systems and pixel arrays for simultaneous measurements of photon interaction position and energy. This chapter is an introduction to the physics and the technology of CdTe and CdZnTe pixel detectors for x-ray spectroscopy and imaging. The physical properties of CdTe …

Performance of a new real time digital pulse processing system for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors

New generation spectroscopy systems have advanced towards digital pulse processing (DPP) approaches. DPP systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals, have recently been favoured over analog pulse processing electronics, ensuring better performance. In this work, we present the performance of a new real time DPP system for X-ray and gamma ray semiconductor detectors. The system is based on a commercial digitizer equipped with a custom DPP firmware, developed by our group, for on-line pulse shape and height analysis. X-ray and gamma ray spectra measurements with cadmium telluride (CdTe) and germanium (Ge) detectors, coupled to resistive feedback preamplifiers, will …

Window-Based Energy Selecting X-ray Imaging and Charge Sharing in Cadmium Zinc Telluride Linear Array Detectors for Contaminant Detection

The spectroscopic and imaging performance of energy-resolved photon counting detectors, based on new sub-millimetre boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman cadmium zinc telluride linear arrays, are presented in this work. The activities are in the framework of the AVATAR X project, planning the development of X-ray scanners for contaminant detection in food industry. The detectors, characterized by high spatial (250 µm) and energy (<3 keV) resolution, allow spectral X-ray imaging with interesting image quality improvements. The effects of charge sharing and energy-resolved techniques on contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) enhancements are investigated. The benefits of a new energy-resolved …

X-ray spectroscopy and dosimetry with a portable CdTe device.

Abstract X-ray spectra and dosimetry information are very important for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) in medical diagnostic X-ray systems. An accurate knowledge of the diagnostic X-ray spectra would improve the patient dose optimization, without compromising image information. In this work, we performed direct diagnostic X-ray spectra measurements with a portable device, based on a CdTe solid-state detector. The portable device is able to directly measure X-ray spectra at high photon fluence rates, as typical of clinical radiography. We investigated on the spectral performances of the system in the mammographic energy range (up to ∼40 keV). Good system response to monoener…

Time-dependent current-voltage characteristics of Al/p-CdTe/Pt x-ray detectors

Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of Schottky Al/p-CdTe/Pt detectors were investigated in dark and at different temperatures. CdTe detectors with Al rectifying contacts, very appealing for high resolution x-ray and gamma ray spectroscopy, suffer from bias-induced polarization phenomena which cause current increasing with the time and severe worsening of the spectroscopic performance. In this work, we studied the time-dependence of the I-V characteristics of the detectors, both in reverse and forward bias, taking into account the polarization effects. The I-V measurements, performed at different time intervals between the application of the bias voltage and the measurement of the current…

Incomplete Charge Collection at Inter-Pixel Gap in Low- and High-Flux Cadmium Zinc Telluride Pixel Detectors.

The success of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors in room-temperature spectroscopic X-ray imaging is now widely accepted. The most common CZT detectors are characterized by enhanced-charge transport properties of electrons, with mobility-lifetime products μeτe > 10−2 cm2/V and μhτh > 10−5 cm2/V. These materials, typically termed low-flux LF-CZT, are successfully used for thick electron-sensing detectors and in low-flux conditions. Recently, new CZT materials with hole mobility-lifetime product enhancements (μhτh > 10−4 cm2/V and μeτe > 10−3 cm2/V) have been fabricated for high-flux measurements (high-flux HF-CZT detectors).…

Room-temperature performance of 3 mm-thick cadmium-zinc-telluride pixel detectors with sub-millimetre pixelization.

Cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) pixel detectors represent a consolidated choice for the development of room-temperature spectroscopic X-ray imagers, finding important applications in medical imaging, often as detection modules of a variety of new SPECT and CT systems. Detectors with 3–5 mm thicknesses are able to efficiently detect X-rays up to 140 keV giving reasonable room-temperature energy resolution. In this work, the room-temperature performance of 3 mm-thick CZT pixel detectors, recently developed at IMEM/CNR of Parma (Italy), is presented. Sub-millimetre detector arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 µm were fabricated. The detectors are characterized by good room-temperature performan…

Digital fast pulse shape and height analysis on cadmium-zinc-telluride arrays for high-flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging.

Cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) arrays with photon-counting and energy-resolving capabilities are widely proposed for next-generation X-ray imaging systems. This work presents the performance of a 2â...mm-thick CZT pixel detector, with pixel pitches of 500 and 250â...μm, dc coupled to a fast and low-noise ASIC (PIXIE ASIC), characterized only by the preamplifier stage. A custom 16-channel digital readout electronics was used, able to digitize and process continuously the signals from each output ASIC channel. The digital system performs on-line fast pulse shape and height analysis, with a low dead-time and reasonable energy resolution at both low and high fluxes. The spectroscopic response …

FIGARO IV: Large-area balloon-borne telescope to study rapid time variabilities in the gamma-ray sources at energies above 50 MeV

We present a new γ-ray telescope based on the Limited Streamer Tube technology, used as tracking chambers to detect photons above 100 MeV. This technique allows to obtain very large sensitive areas (16 m2 in our experiment), together with a good angular resolution for payloads embarcable in high-altitude balloon flights. The capability to collect a large signal in a short exposure time makes the telescope particularly suitable and competitive with respect to satellite-based detectors for studying both periodic and random time variabilities on galactic and extragalactic γ-ray sources.

Performance enhancements of compound semiconductor radiation detectors using digital pulse processing techniques

Abstract The potential benefits of using compound semiconductors for X-ray and gamma ray spectroscopy are already well known. Radiation detectors based on high atomic number and wide band gap compound semiconductors show high detection efficiency and good spectroscopic performance even at room temperature. Despite these appealing properties, incomplete charge collection is a critical issue. Generally, incomplete charge collection, mainly due to the poor transport properties of the holes, produces energy resolution worsening and the well known hole tailing in the measured spectra. In this work, we present a digital pulse processing (DPP) system for high resolution spectroscopy with compound …

The thermal instability collapse in radiation pressure dominated discs

Experimental results from Al/p-CdTe/Pt X-ray detectors

Abstract Recently, Al/CdTe/Pt detectors have been proposed for the development of high resolution X-ray spectrometers. Due to the low leakage currents, these detectors allow high electric fields and the pixellization of anodes with the possibility to realize single charge carrier sensing detectors. In this work, we report on the results of electrical and spectroscopic investigations on CdTe diode detectors with Al/CdTe/Pt electrode configuration (4.1×4.1×0.75 and 4.1×4.1×2 mm 3 ). The detectors are characterized by very low leakage currents in the reverse bias operation: 0.3 nA at 25 °C and 2.4 pA at −25 °C under a bias voltage of −1000 V. The spectroscopic performance of the detectors at b…

Recent advances in the development of high-resolution 3D cadmium-zinc-telluride drift strip detectors.

In the last two decades, great efforts have been made in the development of 3D cadmium–zinc–telluride (CZT) detectors operating at room temperature for gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging. This work presents the spectroscopic performance of new high-resolution CZT drift strip detectors, recently developed at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) in collaboration with due2lab (Italy). The detectors (19.4 mm × 19.4 mm × 6 mm) are organized into collecting anode strips (pitch of 1.6 mm) and drift strips (pitch of 0.4 mm) which are negatively biased to optimize electron charge collection. The cathode is divided into strips orthogonal to the anode strips with a pitch of 2 mm. Dedicated pulse processing analysis…

Digital techniques for high-rate high-resolution radiation measurements

Digital pulse processing (DPP) techniques are increasingly used in the development of modern spectroscopic systems. DPP systems, based on direct digitizing and processing of detector signals (preamplifier output signals), ensure higher flexibility, stability, lower dead time, higher throughput and better energy resolution than traditional pulse processing systems. In this work, we present our progress in the development of DPP systems for high-rate high-resolution radiation measurements. An innovative digital system, able to perform multi-parameter analysis (input counting rate, pulse height, pulse shape, event arrival time, etc.) even at high photon counting rates is presented. Experimenta…

A simple model of radiative emission in M87