Clever Pixels – First Truly Spectral Imaging Detector in the World

Timepix3 (TPX3) is a direct conversion X-ray detector and uses semiconductor or semi-insulator sensors. It has ‘clever‘ pixel electronics capable of processing every detected photon. Contrary to common X-ray imaging detectors, it is capable of measuring simultaneously position, energy and time-of-arrival of every detected photon. Rather than collecting data frame-by-frame the device generates a continuous stream of event data.

The information about detected photon energy is used to create full per-pixel spectra. The precise time measurement for every photon (1.6ns) enables different coincidence based techniques (PET, Compton camera, Time-of-Flight) and applications in imaging of dynamic processes (random vibration suppression, fast scanning). It can be also used to analyses charge generated by radiation quanta and shared between pixels. Therefore, the native resolution of 55m can be improved to 15m in a CdTe sensor 1mm thick. This is the best resolution ever achieved with CdTe sensors (common imaging detectors with CdTe sensors have typically pixels only 100m in size or larger). Moreover, the time information allows correlating and correcting X-ray fluorescences and Compton scattered events inside the sensor further improving the image quality.

A separate USB 3.0 channel for each device assures fast read-out of the whole modular system. The sensor type and thickness is of customer’s choice. Sensors can be even adapted for neutron imaging by deposition of converter layers. Compared to the older Timepix chip the Timepix3 detector offers six times better time resolution, two times better energy resolution, two times lower minimum energy threshold, zero dead time and ten times faster data transfer. Therefore, the module is an ultimate tool for particle detection. Detecting coincidences between particles is easy with the time information coupled with every hit. The software bundled with AdvaPIX allows identifying tracks of individual particles.