Abstract:

DESY are developing X-ray detectors for synchrotron and FEL sources. The LAMBDA detector is a photon-counting detector for synchrotrons, with a combination of small pixel size, fast readout speed and the possibility to build large multi-module systems. In particular, versions of LAMBDA have been developed where the typical silicon sensor layer is replaced with a “high-Z” (high atomic number) sensor, which provides high quantum efficiency at high X-ray energies. LAMBDA systems have been used in a range of experiments, including time-resolved hard X-ray experiments with 1ms resolution. DESY are now experimenting with new technologies, including through-silicon-via technology for reducing the gaps between detector modules, and the “Timepix” readout chip for extremely high time resolution in lower-flux experiments. We have also created a spinoff company, X-Spectrum, which is now selling the LAMBDA system.