Submillisecond X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy from a pixel array detector with fast dual gating and no readout...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Biophysics

Background:

• X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful technique for studying dynamics in materials.
• Traditional XPCS detectors face limitations in time resolution due to readout dead-time.
• Advancements in detector technology are crucial for pushing the boundaries of dynamic measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel photon-counting pixel array detector for XPCS.
• To assess the detector's capability to overcome readout dead-time limitations.
• To explore the potential for enhanced time resolution in XPCS experiments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a novel photon-counting pixel array detector with dual counters per pixel.
• Achieved independent readout of each counter to eliminate readout dead-time between frames.
• Conducted small-angle scattering X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) experiments.

Main Results:

• The novel detector achieved a maximum frame rate of 11.8 kHz.
• Experimental results on test samples demonstrated good agreement with simple diffusion models.
• The dual-counter design effectively minimized readout dead-time, enabling higher effective frame rates.

Conclusions:

• The developed photon-counting detector significantly enhances XPCS capabilities.
• The dual-counter architecture offers a pathway to extend the time resolution of XPCS.
• This technology holds promise for more detailed investigations of dynamic processes in various materials.