You no longer have to wonder how our cameras perform in the field. You can now see the scientific impact of our technology at a glance. The badge at the top serves as a direct link to a dedicated section at the bottom of the page, where you can explore all the professional studies and articles.

Whether you are looking for specific imaging techniques, high-impact journals, or the latest publication dates, our integrated library makes it easy to find relevant data. You can browse through citations, read full articles, and see exactly how our detectors contributed to specific scientific breakthroughs.

Watch the video below, where Martin introduces the BIOZ Badges interface and shows it in action.

We are grateful to BIOZ for this partnership, allowing us to showcase the scientific achievements of our community directly on our website.

A Historic Return to the Lunar Orbit

When the massive SLS (Space Launch System) rocket ascends from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, it will mark the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. The first launch window is scheduled for February 6, 2026. During the ten-day mission, the four-person crew will not land but will orbit the Moon to test all critical life-support systems. This mission serves as the final rehearsal before Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface in the coming years.

The Heart of the HERA System

A vital component for the mission’s success is the HERA (Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor) system. This NASA-developed instrument is designed to monitor cosmic radiation, which can severely impact both human health and sensitive onboard electronics. The “eyes” of the HERA system consist of six Timepix chips supplied by ADVACAM. These are integrated into two HSU (Hera Sensor Unit) units, with three modules each. “These are extremely sensitive pixel chips capable of detecting every single particle of cosmic radiation and determining its energy, direction, interaction time, and particle type,” explains Jan Jakůbek, ADVACAM’s Scientific Director. “This allows for a detailed analysis of the radiation’s composition, which is essential because different particles have different biological effects.”

From CERN to Deep Space

The technology behind these chips originated in fundamental physics research at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Today, ADVACAM is a NASA-certified supplier. Their detectors are already a standard in the industry, having been deployed on:

• The International Space Station (ISS)

• The OneWeb Joey Sat satellite

• Czech CubeSats VZLUSAT I and II

• The future lunar orbital station Gateway (as part of the ESA IDA system)

Jan Sohar, CEO of ADVACAM, adds: “We are proud that NASA plans to use our chips during the final attempt to land on the Moon as part of the Artemis III mission. It is a clear indication that detailed radiation measurement is becoming an increasingly important part of human spaceflight.”

AdvaSpace: “Space Weather” Forecasting

The Czech ambition extends beyond hardware. At the end of 2025, the group established a new subsidiary called AdvaSpace (part of Advisiones Technologies). Its goal is to move from hardware production to data processing. The company envisions a satellite constellation using MiniPIX SPACE detectors to provide real-time “space weather” data. This information would be invaluable not only to space agencies but also to:

• Aviation companies

• Power grid operators

• Insurance providers

“Our goal is to share space weather data much like meteorological satellites provide information about terrestrial weather,” says Martin Tyburec, Director of AdvaSpace. The company is currently seeking partners and investors to realize this ambitious vision.

The full press release, along with visual materials, can be found here.

Photo: SLS launch vehicle, detail of the HERA system installed in the Orion spacecraft, and Timepix chips. Source: NASA / SRAG-JSC / ADVACAM

Návrat k Luně po 53 letech

Start obří rakety SLS (Space Launch System) z Kennedyho kosmického střediska na Floridě je naplánován na 6. února 2026. Pro NASA jde o historický milník – první pilotovanou misi k Měsíci od dob Apolla 17 v roce 1972. Čtyřčlenná posádka stráví ve vesmíru deset dní. Během nich Měsíc obkrouží a otestuje všechny kritické systémy lodi Orion. Jde o finální prověrku před misí Artemis III, která má v následujících letech dopravit Američany přímo na povrch Luny.

Srdce systému HERA: Technologie z pražských Holešovic

Klíčovým prvkem pro bezpečnost astronautů je přístroj HERA (Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor). Jeho „mozkem“ je šest čipů typu Timepix, které vyvinula a dodala pražská firma ADVACAM.

Tyto čipy jsou rozmístěny ve dvou jednotkách HSU (Hera Sensor Unit). Jejich úkolem je:

• Monitorovat složení záření: Na rozdíl od běžných detektorů umí Timepix rozpoznat každou jednotlivou částici.

• Určit parametry: Čipy měří energii, směr, čas i typ částice.

• Varovat posádku: Systém data autonomně vyhodnocuje a v případě nebezpečí okamžitě varuje astronauty.

• Ověřit stínění: Data pomohou zjistit, jak efektivně loď Orion posádku před radiací chrání.

„Jde o nesmírně citlivé pixelové čipy. To je podstatné, protože různé druhy kosmických částic mají různé účinky,“ vysvětluje vědecký ředitel ADVACAMu, Jan Jakůbek.

Od CERNu až k lunární stanici Gateway

Technologie Timepix má kořeny v nejšpičkovějším vědeckém výzkumu – původně vznikla pro urychlovač částic v CERNu. Dnes je však standardem pro kosmické mise. Produkty ADVACAMu už slouží na ISS, v českých satelitech VZLUSAT i v komerčních družicích OneWeb. Do budoucna se počítá s jejich využitím i na chystané lunární orbitální stanici Gateway a při samotném přistání lidí na Měsíci v rámci mise Artemis III.

Budoucnost: „Meteorologie“ pro vesmírné počasí

Česká ambice v kosmu nekončí jen u výroby hardware. Na konci roku 2025 vznikla v rámci skupiny AdVisiones Technologies nová dceřiná firma AdvaSpace. Jejím cílem je vybudovat celou konstelaci družic, které budou sledovat kosmické počasí. „Naším cílem je sdílet data o radiaci podobně, jako meteorologické družice poskytují informace o běžném počasí,“ říká ředitel AdvaSpace, Martin Tyburec. Tato data budou klíčová nejen pro astronauty, ale i pro letecké společnosti nebo provozovatele energetických sítí na Zemi.

Celé znění tiskové zprávy spolu s obrazovým materiálem naleznete zde.

Foto: Nosná raketa SLS, detail systému HERA instalovaného v lodi Orion a čipů Timepix, Zdroj: NASA / SRAG-JSC / ADVACAM

“The entire device, the system, consists of two robotic arms. One is equipped with an X-ray source, while the other carries an advanced camera that can capture radiation invisible to the naked eye. For X-ray imaging, we use pixel detectors that are noise-free and highly sensitive,” explains imaging expert Michal Pech.

The robotic system reveals what has hitherto been hidden from the eyes of forensic scientists. It can be used, for example, in the investigation of industrial accidents, where it is necessary to examine the condition of pipes, the quality of welds, or pressure gauges. It can also be used in the investigation of large fires, traffic and aviation accidents, or in verifying the authenticity of works of art.

“The great advantage of the multimodal scanner is that all methods are in one device, which will significantly facilitate the examination of forensic evidence,” says forensic scientist Marek Kotrlý. “We don’t have to transfer samples between devices, which eliminates the possibility of contamination, damage, or even loss.”

“We can dismantle the system, transport it to the location where the large sample is located, and prepare it like in the laboratory. We assemble the system, calibrate it, and perform measurements, which we then process in a similar way to measurements in the laboratory,” adds Pech.

The Czech police are the first in the world to use a device of this kind. Its originality is confirmed by its placement in the finals of the prestigious Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation, where it tied for second place in the technical innovation category.

First, let’s look at the names:

• Detectors with first generation chip are now called MiniPIX BASIC.
• Timepix2 devices are called SPRINTER in the case of MiniPIX and AdvaPIX, or DYNAMIC in the case of WidePIX.
• Timepix3 detectors are called MiniPIX or AdvaPIX MAGIC.
• Medipix3 cameras are now called WidePIX CHROMATIC.

We have also introduced new WidePIX builds, which are ready for industrial integration. They are called WidePIX Industry and WidePIX SenseEdge.

The color scheme also reflects these categories. Timepix detectors are light grey, Timepix3 detectors are dark grey, Timepix 2 and Medipix3 are black. ADVACAM red serves as a contrast element, complemented by white lettering. The distinction is shown in this simplified scheme:

This is what our rebranded portfolio looks like:

Skenují všude, kde záleží na perfektní kvalitě

Mikroskopická prasklina v lehké konstrukci křídla letadla může znamenat vážné bezpečnostní riziko, stejně tak jako třeba nekvalitní svár v potrubí vinoucím se jadernou elektrárnou. Ozařování rakoviny mozku může vést ke ztrátě paměti nebo zraku. Nepatrný detail v podmalbě renesančního obrazu rozhoduje o tom, zda se jedná o historický originál nebo bezcenný padělek. Jediná nabitá částice kosmického záření má potenciál zničit celou vesmírnou misi za miliony dolarů…

To jsou jen některé z oborů, kde se už nyní uplatňují české detekční technologie. Umožňují sledovat každou jednotlivou částici anebo natáčet nebývale citlivá barevná rentgenová videa. Právě výrobce těchto přístrojů a vývojáře souvisejících zobrazovacích metod nyní zaštiťuje česká hi-tech skupina AdVisiones Technologies a.s.

Kdo nevidí, co potřebuje, obrací se do Holešovic

Svoji vizi nyní představili její zakladatelé, Jan Sohar, Jan Jakůbek a Josef Uher. Se zákazníky napříč celým světem (NASA, CERN, Boeing, SpaceX, Honda, Applus+, Anton Paar, Thermo Fisher Scientific) mají na tuzemské poměry mimořádně velké ambice:

„Konsolidace podniků vyvíjejících pokročilé zobrazovací metody pod hlavičku AdVisiones Technologies je pouze začátek procesu, který by měl vést k potvrzení naší pozice jako světového lídra v této oblasti. V průmyslu se těšíme pověsti těch, kteří umí zrentgenovat i to, s čím si nikdo jiný neví rady. A v tom hodláme pokračovat. Do roku 2030 plánujeme zvýšit obrat celé skupiny na 700 milionů korun. Chceme, aby se skupina postupně rozšiřovala. Brzy představíme další dceřinou firmu, která se bude soustředit na monitorování a předpověď kosmického počasí. Dalším důkazem je právě dokončená akvizice německého vývojáře a výrobce částicových detektorů firmy X-ray Imaging Europe GmbH,“ popisuje ředitel skupiny, Jan Sohar.

„Spolupráci našich firem vnímáme jako skvělou příležitost. Synergie spočívá hlavně v možnosti využití našich vysoce efektivních senzorových vrstev, jež lze aplikovat na detektory vyráběné AdVisiones Technologies. Díky tomu se nám otevírají dveře na nové trhy. Například jde o medicínské aplikace,“ říká ke spojení s českou skupinou Michael Fiederle ze společnosti X-ray Imaging Europe.

Co je to Technologický hub pro inovace v zobrazování?

Nová skupina sama sebe označuje jako „Hub for imaging innovation“. To znamená, že bude vyhledávat i další slibné aplikace, které spadají do její strategie. Zároveň otevírá příležitost případným investorům, kteří by měli zájem se na tomto smělém projektu podílet.

Scanning Anywhere Where Perfect Quality Matters

A microscopic crack in an aircraft’s lightweight wing structure can pose a serious safety risk, just like a poor-quality weld in the pipework of a nuclear power plant. Brain cancer radiation therapy can cause memory loss or impaired vision. A tiny detail in the underpainting of a Renaissance artwork can determine whether it is a priceless original or a worthless forgery. A single charged particle of cosmic radiation has the potential to destroy a multi-million-dollar space mission.

These are only some of the fields where Czech detection technologies are already in use. They make it possible to track every individual particle or record exceptionally sensitive color X-ray videos. The Czech hi-tech group AdVisiones Technologies a.s. now unites the manufacturers of these instruments and the developers of the associated imaging methods.

When You Need to See the Unseen, You Turn to Prague

The group’s founders, Jan Sohar, Jan Jakubek, and Josef Uher, have now presented their vision. With clients across the world (including NASA, CERN, Boeing, SpaceX, Honda, Applus, Anton Paar, Thermo Fisher Scientific), they hold ambitions that are remarkable by Czech standards.

“Bringing companies developing advanced imaging methods under AdVisiones Technologies is only the beginning of a process that should confirm our position as a global leader in this field. In the industry, we have a reputation for being able to X-ray even what no one else can. And we intend to keep it that way.

By 2030, we plan to increase the group’s turnover to 28 million EUR. We want the group to expand further. Soon, we will introduce another subsidiary focused on space-weather monitoring and forecasting. Another proof of our direction is the recently completed acquisition of the German particle-detector developer and manufacturer X-ray Imaging Europe GmbH,” says Jan Sohar, CEO of the group.

Regarding the integration with the Czech group, Michael Fiederle of X-ray Imaging Europe adds: “We see the cooperation of our companies as a great opportunity. The synergy lies mainly in the ability to use our highly efficient sensor layers in the detectors manufactured by AdVisiones Technologies. This opens the door to new markets. For example, medical applications.”

What is „A hub for imaging innovation“?

The newly formed group describes itself as “A hub for imaging innovation”. This means it will actively seek additional promising applications aligned with its strategy. It also opens opportunities for potential investors who may wish to participate in this ambitious project.

I want similar results

We just participated in some traiblazing research, which got published in Scientific Reports – Nature’s most cited magazine.

Changing crystalline microstructure of iron is crucial for its mechanical properties in the finished product. X-ray diffraction has been an important method in metallurgy, but so far, it could only be done on the sample surface.

Jan Jakubek, together with Daniel Vavrik, Vjaceslav Georgiev, Bohuslav Masek, Ondrej Urban, Jan Sleichrt & Daniel Kytyr from Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics and University of West Bohemia, conducted an experiment: They monitored the crystalline composition of a 1.5 mm thick steel plate while changing its temperature from 25 to 750 °C and back within five minutes. They recorded XRD data using ADVACAM’s fully spectroscopic AdvaPIX detector. Then they compared the data with a mathematical model created by Jan.

The result?

Fitting the model to the data, the authors demonstrated that it is possible to observe microstructural changes within the metallic object volume in real time. They were able to accurately determine the presence of different allotropes (specifically austenite and ferrite) over time with precision better than 1%. A single measurement step can be performed in just 0.05 s. This method can be used for quality control in industry for the manufacturing of high-performance alloys, especially for metallurgical processes such as quenching, annealing, smithery, rolling, casting, etc.

Check the results in the graph or learn more in Scientific Reports.

It’s not easy to understand what a “WidePIX L 2(1)x5 MPX3″ is. That’s why we prepared a system to simplify this. Suddenly, this mouthful turns into “WidePIX CHROMATIC 5“. All our cameras will get a new, simplified name and sleek design. We will introduce the full framework soon.

Get a discount on all devices

Now, we are selling out the current stock. The cameras with the old design and name are available for lower price until the end of September. This is why we offer you a discount on all products.

• For orders above 10 000 €, save 1 000 €,

• For orders above 20 000 €, save 2 000 €,

• For orders above 35 000 €, save 3 500 €.

How? Easily, just use the secret password: REBRANDING SUMMER SALE, when talking to our representative.

Get in touch

The sale is in effect for inquiries and orders placed from the date of its announcement until September 30th or until stock lasts. The offer cannot be combined with other promotional offers or sales – higher discount applies.

On Wednesday (July 2nd, 2025), the U.S. Senate narrowly approved an amendment to the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” proposed by Senator Ted Cruz. It allows additional funding for crewed exploration missions beyond the level requested by the White House. Cruz justified the amendment as an investment in winning the new space race with China and securing U.S. dominance in space.

“The amendment proposes adding at least $750 million for each fiscal year from 2026 to 2028 for full funding of the Gateway space station, and up to $350 million for 2029,” reports the specialized space portal Kosmonautix.cz.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on Gateway’s fate on Thursday. “Allegedly, there is strong pressure to approve the bill in the form passed by the Senate, and it seems unlikely that any amendments will even reach the debate stage in the House. However, this does not mean that the proposal will be automatically approved and sent to the President. The final decision is expected in the coming hours,” adds Jiří Hošek from Kosmonautix.cz.

Nervousness Among Suppliers

Not only NASA is anxiously watching the battle over Gateway funding, but also the European Space Agency (ESA), Canada, Japan, and hundreds of smaller countries and companies that are involved in this highly ambitious mission. The Gateway space station, orbiting the Moon, aims to test the effects of the space environment on human crews in preparation for manned missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. These areas face much harsher conditions than those near Earth, such as aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Cosmic radiation is hazardous.

Aboard Gateway, specifically in the HALO module, an internal radiation dosimetry system called IDA (Internal Dosimetry Array) is to be installed, developed under a project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). One of the key instruments in this detector array is currently being finalized by Czech company ADVACAM, which has long supplied miniaturized chips for detailed radiation analysis to customers, including ESA and NASA.

“It will monitor radiation doses to which astronauts are exposed. It will also generate scientific data for radiation mapping, shielding assessments, and more. Our detector can provide real-time information on particle type, energy, direction, time of impact, and point of impact,” explains Tomáš Komárek of ADVACAM.

Detector Survives Launch Vibrations and Temperature Changes

Tomáš Komárek recently led environmental testing of the completed detector (video). Vibration and thermal tests were conducted at the VÚTS laboratories in Liberec. “The vibration tests determine whether the detector can survive mechanical stresses during launch. We also passed thermal tests, where the detector was cooled and heated to temperatures ranging from -25°C to +85°C. The detector was able to survive and remain functional,” adds Komárek.

Partners in the IDA project — which include, besides ADVACAM, HUN REN Centre for Energy Research and REMRED Ltd from Hungary, Germany’s DLR German Aerospace Center, Airbus, and Japan’s space agency JAXA — can only hope that the Gateway project gets the green light, and their work does not go to waste.

Eight experts from Germany, Austria, the United States and the Czech Republic presented innovative applications of computed tomography (CT) performed with robotic arms. This is an innovative method for industrial non-destructive testing and imaging of lightweight materials. One moving arm is equipped with a radiation source, while the other is equipped with an advanced particle detector. This allows variable methods and combinations of methods to be applied and anomalies hidden within the sample to be detected.

Conventional methods of material inspection using X-ray often encounter obstacles such as the size or shape of the object. These can make the resulting images distorted or costly. However, the combination with robots helps to overcome these obstacles.

Typically, this technology is applied by testing experts in the automotive and aerospace industries. X-rays help them to detect hidden defects in bodies and components. Robotic CT also has its place in plant scanning, where it can reveal the yield of ears or the presence of parasites. Another unusual application is the restoration and authentication of artwork.

ADVACAM was represented by Jan Jakubek

Thanks to the mobility of the robotic arms, it is possible to precisely control the relative position of the detector, the radiation source and the specimen being monitored. This makes it possible to obtain detailed images from many angles, which subsequently form a planar or three-dimensional model of the object that accurately shows the location of anomalies or defects. This technology can also be combined with other non-destructive methods such as ultrasonic inspection and laser surface profiling.

Radalytica has also developed prototype devices that apply robotic CT in the medical field. Thanks to the fact that the particle detectors supplied by sister company ADVACAM can distinguish the wavelengths of incoming radiation, this method can differentiate between different types of tissue. This can help detect hidden growths or tumours and, in particular, makes their treatment more precise. An example of the application of robotic CT is Irradion, a project that modifies a robotic scanner being developed for the purpose of research into ion beam cancer treatment.

The AdvaDose project is set to create a device with three main functions. It will

• detect changes in the radiation field compared to one or more reference fields,
• spectrally and directionally characterize the radiation field as a whole and in terms of individual particle components and
• capture temporal changes in these characteristics.

The image above shows examples of different clusters – energy generated in each pixel as a result of the interaction with each particle. Their shape and intensity vary depending on the type of particle, its energy, and the angle at which it hits the sensor.

These clusters are key in comparing the reference radiation field with the measured data. Without such comparison, the values measured by dosimetry equipment may be significantly over- or underestimated.

The AdvaDose monitoring device will be based on a single-chip or multi-chip detector configuration with ASIC chips from the hashtag#Timepix family combined with software that processes the data measured by the detector into user-friendly outputs.

This project will be funded by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic’s TREND program. Our partners include the Czech Metrology Institute, NUVIA, and ÚJF AV ČR.

The image is in fact a collage of results published in the eleventh issue of JMI by experts from the University of Houston, USA. They are using these “cameras” to push the limits of computed tomography. Their aim is to achieve the most accurate results in distinguishing different types of biological tissue. This can be useful for detecting unwanted growths and tumours or observing areas that conventional techniques cannot capture.

The Houston researchers looked at ways to improve imaging results by using photon-counting detectors to image and distinguish biological materials in the body. As part of a collaborative project, ADVACAM also developed a unique model of the WidePIX large-area detector for the University of Houston that can image an area of 1,638,400 pixels.

Read the article

The photon-counting detector technology that ADVACAM produces was primarily developed for experimental purposes related to matter research at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. These detectors make it possible to obtain important information about each particle that comes into contact with their sensor, offering very high resolution imaging and the ability to discriminate between materials. They can be used for X-ray imaging in biomedicine, non-destructive testing, particle physics research or monitoring radiation in space.

The BIOSPHERE training course and the 1st stakeholder workshop on “New methodologies and developments to investigate the influence of extraterrestrial radiation in the biosphere” was organized by UJF CAS, CMI, and PTB on October 1-2, 2024, in Prague and at the Milešovka observatory, Czech Republic. The event attracted over 50 participants, including both in-person and online attendees.

The course focused on new methods and techniques developed within the project, specifically on methods capable of identifying and establishing correlations between cosmic rays, solar UV radiation, and the thickness of the ozone layer, as well as assessing their mutual effects on biological systems.

Taking advantage of the ongoing third measurement campaign at the Milešovka Observatory (running from mid-August 2024 to mid-November 2024), participants were provided with a unique opportunity to see the instruments in action.

The first day featured lectures introducing key topics, including an invited presentation by Prof. Ashot Chilingarian, head of Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) at the A.I. Alikhanyan National Laboratory (Yerevan Physics Institute), titled “Modulation of Cosmic Rays in the Earth’s Atmosphere”. On the second day, participants joined an excursion to the Milešovka Observatory, where they observed the instruments in operation and received on-site explanations of their functionality. Prof. Chilingarian also presented the SEVAN detector installed at the observatory, part of the SEVAN network.

The topic of the project and the third measurement campaign captured significant media interest. Coverage included a report aired on Czech Television News and broadcasts on Czech Radio.

Muon tracking with miniaturized 2× stack Timepix3 telescope

The secondary cosmic radiation field during the 3rd measurement campaign at the Milešovka Observatory is measured in high resolution and enhanced resolving power with a miniaturized particle telescope 2× stack Timepix3.

Data is processed with previous calibration database, AI and pattern recognition algorithms using an integrated database and SW tool TraX Engine.  The composition and spectral characterization of the mixed-radiation field is resolved into particle species. The resulting angular flux of muons measured on ground in the atmosphere is shown below.

For further details, see: C. Granja, J. Jakubek, P. Soukup, et. al., Spectral tracking of energetic charged particles in wide fieldof-view with miniaturized telescope MiniPIX Timepix3 1×2 Stack, J. of Instrum. JINST 17 (2022) C03028.

The problem

The estimated gap of skilled professionals in STEM is expected to reach 85 million by 2030. One of the reasons behind this is the lack of diversity and inclusivity in many STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workplaces and programmes. Women, rural populations, minority ethnic groups, people from lower socio-economic classes, and other marginalised groups are underrepresented in STEM fields in most developed and developing countries. The TimePix project is looking towards helping students connect with STEM subjects, creating the spark for scientific curiosity and bridging the gap to fairer access to education.

CERN’s solution

A study by Accenture revealed that for every dollar invested in learning, a company reaps a remarkable $3.53 in measurable value to its bottom line – a staggering 353% return on learning. With the TimePix project, we are not just investing in hardware; we are investing in the future of STEM education and workforce diversity.

How we will do it: through a network of regional hubs spread across CERN Member States, Associate Member States, and beyond, serving as epicenters of innovation and empowerment. These hubs will be instrumental in distributing TimePix hardware and teaching materials to local schools, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to delve into the wonders of science firsthand.

Equal Access, Equal Opportunity: Through an open call process, local hubs will be carefully selected to serve at least three schools, providing up to 10 detectors per hub. This ensures equitable access to education and the scalability of the project, with promotional materials disseminated through teachers’ networks, empowering educators to inspire the next generation of scientists.

What is TimePix?

TimePix is one of the chips developed by the Medipix Collaborations. After 30 years of project impact on different societal applications, we are now ready to make TimePix more widely available in high schools. The TimePix kit chip has been used in a number of successful pilot projects in schools, to be sure that it responds to the needs of its users: students.

How does it work? 

Did you know that we are always surrounded by radiation? Like background radiation, a natural form always present in every environment. We are constantly hit by cosmic rays, particles produced by stars or black holes, that travel through us every minute. Even the dust all around us can be a source of radioactivity.

But how do they work? It can be difficult to understand radiation and how powerful it can be as a tool.

Using TimePix as visual aid, you will give as many students as possible the chance to be hands-on with science. Designing experiments that will enable them to perceive radiation all around them and how it interacts with matter.

In the image*, you can see an example of a detection taken with TimePix, and how different sources of radiation are represented by different shapes and colors. This makes TimePix intuitive to use and creates the spark of curiosity, in young people as much as in adults.

Source: CERN

Maneesh is a robotics and aerospace engineering professional with over a decade of experience. He currently leads the HUMANISE Project and the robotics team at Stellar Space Industries, focusing on interplanetary and terrestrial rover development. As a Technical Lead at YES!Delft, he works on the SPOT robot project, enhancing data collection on construction sites using Boston Dynamics’ robotic dog, Spot.

The UNSEEN TALKS podcast focuses on the latest technology that implements particle imaging cameras. It is produced by their number one manufacturer, Czech company ADVACAM.

Cosmic rays, UV radiation, atmospheric parameters and anthropogenic emissions are being measured in parallel. Milešovka was chosen because of its low emissions and higher altitude. Measurements have been made in Athens and Brussels, with Milesovka yet to be followed by Lindernberg in Germany. The space for the measuring equipment at Milešovka was provided by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

“The European BIOSPHERE project focuses on the impact of the combination of cosmic rays, UV radiation and man-made molecules in the atmosphere on the ozone layer and tries to quantify these partial effects and look for relationships and connections between them,” says Dr. Iva Ambrožová. “The description of these connections has an important overlap with the protection of human health,” she adds, adding that the Institute has developed a special detector for the purpose of obtaining information about neutrons in cosmic rays.

“Our goal is to precisely measure the composition of cosmic rays passing through the atmosphere. This will allow us to understand very precisely the physical processes that accompany, for example, the depletion of the ozone layer or have a significant impact on human health,” explains the project’s principal investigator doc. Carlos Granja from ADVACAM. The company supplies its miniature radiation cameras, which work as particle telescopes at Milešovka, for the experiments.

About the international BIOSPHERE project

The EURAMET BIOSPHERE (Metrology for Earth Biosphere: Cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation and fragility of ozone shield) project, launched in October 2022, aims to develop the necessary tools, methodologies and metrological framework to quantify the relationship between cosmic rays, ozone depletion and anthropogenic emissions and to assess the impact of combined secondary cosmic rays and UV radiation on human health.

The project involves a consortium of 22 international scientific institutions. The 21GRD02 BIOSPHERE project receives funding from the European Metrology Partnership, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and the participating countries.

The international coordinator of the project is the German National Metrology Institute (PTB, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt).

V rámci kampaně je souběžně měřeno kosmické záření, UV záření, atmosférické parametry a antropogenní emise. Milešovka byla vybrána kvůli nízkým emisím a vyšší nadmořské výšce. Měření proběhla v Athénách a v Bruselu, po Milešovce ještě bude následovat německý Lindernberg. Prostor pro měřicí zařízení na Milešovce poskytl Ústav fyziky atmosféry AV ČR.

„Evropský projekt BIOSPHERE se zaměřuje na ovlivňování ozonové vrstvy kombinací kosmického záření, UV záření a lidmi produkovanými molekulami v atmosféře a snaží se tyto dílčí vlivy kvantifikovat a hledat mezi nimi vztahy a souvislosti,“ říká Dr. Iva Ambrožová, zástupkyně vedoucí Oddělení dozimetrie záření Ústavu jaderné fyziky AV ČR. „Popis těchto souvislostí má důležitý přesah do oblasti ochrany lidského zdraví,“ doplňuje s tím, že ÚJF pro účely měření vyvinul speciální detektor neutronů v kosmickém záření.

„Naším cílem je precizně měřit složení kosmického záření, které prochází atmosférou. To nám umožní velmi přesně porozumět fyzikálním dějům, které provází například úbytek ozonové vrstvy anebo mají významný dopad na lidské zdraví,“ vysvětluje řešitel projektu doc. Carlos Granja ze společnosti ADVACAM. Ta dodává pro experimenty své miniaturní radiační kamery pracující na Milešovce jako částicové teleskopy.

O mezinárodním projektu BIOSPHERE

Projekt EURAMET BIOSPHERE (Metrology for Earth Biosphere: Cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation and fragility of ozone shield), který byl zahájen v říjnu 2022, si klade za cíl vyvinout potřebné nástroje, metodiky a metrologický rámec pro kvantifikaci vztahu mezi kosmickým zářením, poškozováním ozonové vrstvy a antropogenními emisemi a pro posouzení dopadu kombinovaného sekundárního kosmického záření a UV záření na lidské zdraví.

Projekt zahrnuje konsorcium 22 mezinárodních vědeckých institucí. Projekt 21GRD02 BIOSPHERE čerpá finanční prostředky z Evropského partnerství pro metrologii, spolufinancovaného výzkumným a inovačním programem EU Horizon Europe a zúčastněnými státy.

Mezinárodním koordinátorem projektu je Německý národní metrologický institut (PTB, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt).

The LETS 2024 mapping was carried out by France Digitale in collaboration with 32 other French and European startup organizations. It lists European companies that meet the following criteria:

1. be an innovative and growing company
2. have been founded after 2000
3. be based and employ at least 50% of its workforce in Europe (UK, EEA, AU, Balkans included)
4. achieve more than €10 million in global annual turnover and
5. achieve at least €1 million outside their domestic market.

This mapping was carried out during the second quarter of 2024. It is based on declarative information and publicly available information (Dealroom, LinkedIn, press, specialized sites, company reports). Some countries like Germany are underrepresented because revenue information is not publicly available or is not shared by companies or national startup associations.

Explore LETS by country, sector and key facts & figures https://mappings.francedigitale.org/lets-2024

The first episode is out now – Martin Tyburec interviewed Lukáš Málek, who is the head of avionics at Czech Rocket Society, a student team which brings new talents into the industry. They were joined by ADVACAM’s researcher David Hladík. Listen to UNSEEN TALKS’ pilote episode now on any major streaming platform.

These results are the first published measurements done on our joint project with scientists from the German National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), DKFZ German Cancer Research Center, and the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) at University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD). This application of Advacam technology in medicine could help limit the side effects of ion radiotherapy.

This new device called Beam TraX, composed of 28 Timepix3 chips, could reduce the side effects of carbon ion beam radiotherapy and mitigate memory and optic nerve damage after the irradiation by reducing the overall irradiated volume of healthy brain tissue and allowing higher doses of radiation to be applied directly to the tumor.

Read the whole study on the in-vivo treatment monitoring system for ion-beam radiotherapy based on 28 Timepix3 detectors in Nature’s Scientific Reports.

In this context, NOAA has reported irregularities in the power grid, deterioration of high-frequency communications and GPS signal outages.  Connection issues were also reported by some users of the Starlink network.

The radiation environment in low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard the Internationa Space Station (ISS) differs significantly from conditions on Earth. While direct measurements are already being made, new methods are emerging. One of these methods involves the use of radiation monitors based on detector technology from the Timepix family. These advanced devices provide insight not only into the dose and flux of radiation, but also particle composition, linear energy transfer (LET), directivity and other parameters.

NASA currently uses more than 10 radiation monitors based on ADVACAM technology on the ISS, but it does not yet use some of the advanced features that a Czech astronaut could test on the station.

Having detailed information about the radiation environment is essential for monitoring and possible space weather forecasting. An accurate space weather forecasting capability is key to ensuring protection of the human crew and any sensitive equipment.

Obtaining accurate data for space weather assessment requires an astronaut with the ability to operate and position radiation monitors inside the ISS. The devices would be connected to any computing unit (PC, uController) and once set up, would continuously sense and monitor radiation environment.

Analysis of the data from such an experiment would greatly improve our understanding of space weather and would allow us to predict events such as solar flares, which are a threat to crew and electronic devices.

In conjunction with this research, a trained astronaut can also play a key role by conducting a series of of educational radiation measurements. The aim of these outreach activities, whether through online live broadcasts or short videos, is to share valuable knowledge about the radiation environment, associated risks and the need for protection with the general public.

Expected benefits:

The results of the analysis will be used to assess the space weather situation and improve forecasting strategies to ensure the safety of future crews and the longevity of satellites in orbit.

Educational videos will raise awareness of radiation protection, measurement techniques and capabilities of Timepix-based detectors. It will also highlight the involvement and key role of the Czech industry in such activities.

Accurate space weather forecasting ensures enhanced crew safety and longevity of satellites in orbit. It also opens up a whole new market for advanced radiation monitors, which is an opportunity for Czech industrial partners who develop and manufacture these devices.

Basic data:

Time required to prepare the experiment or demonstration:

6 months

Duration of the experiment:

Total of 8 hours, including educational activities

Cargo weight:

800g (2x Minipix Timepix3, 2x Minipix Sprinter)

Maximum energy intensity:

12 W total

Data Intensity:

Up to 1 Gb/day

The highlight of the celebrations is a prestigious lecture series called “The virtuous circle of knowledge and innovation – From particle physics to new technology and back.” Among the nine invited speakers is also the CSO of ADVACAM Jan Jakůbek, who will primarily discuss our medical and educational activities.

The company, we find ourselves in through Jan, is truly top. You can judge the line-up for yourself:

Tabea Arndt, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize laureate in Physics
Jan Jakůbek, ADVACAM
Amalia Ballarino, CERN
Reinhold Bertlmann, University of Vienna
Daniela Bortoletto, University of Oxford
Nicolas Gisin, University of Geneva
Steffen Kappler, Siemens Healthineers
Alessandro Lombardi, CERN

The gala evening begins today at 19:30. Keep your fingers crossed for Jan to succeed in his presentation.

You can watch the entire event live via CERN’s Webcast. If you can’t catch it live, a recording will also be available on CERN’s YouTube channel.

Cheers to CERN!

SPACE: TIMEPIX DETECTOR BURNT AT LUNAR LANDER

With the Astrobotic lunar lander Peregrine burning up in Earth’s atmosphere, the first component ever intended to measure radiation composition on the Moon was also destroyed.

More about Lunar Lander…

CANCER: PARTICLE CAMERAS ARE TO REFINE CANCER IRRADIATION

Our new futuristic device resembles the system used by physicists at CERN to understand the internal structure of the fundamental particles of matter. It is now being tested on the first patients in Germany.

More about gentler ion radiotherapy…

MATERIAL ANALYSIS: XRD WTIHOUT SAMPLE DESTRUCTION

Yes, the traditional powder XRD is a destructive method. But with our AdvaPIX QUAD carrying a 4x larger sensitive area even thick, heavy samples can be inspected non-destructively.

More about transmission XRD…

NEW PRODUCT: A BRAND NEW MINIPIX SPRINTER

The highest frame rate in its category: Up to 99 frames per second combined with extremely high stability. The signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 2,000 enables crystal-clear X-ray images with noise at 0.05 %.

More MiniPIX SPRINTER…

Are you curious about how technology can improve your field?  

We are ready to answer any inquiries.

Scientists from the German National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT) at Heidelberg University Hospital are now testing on the first patients a particle detector supplied by the Czech company ADVACAM. The surprising application of this technology in medicine could help limit the side effects of ion radiotherapy.

“One of the most advanced methods for treating head and neck tumors involves irradiation with ion beams. This has one unique feature: It can be precisely tailored to the depth inside the human head where the particles should have the maximal effect,“ explains Mária Martišíková, InViMo project leader from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

However, like other types of irradiation, ion radiation also has a catch. The particle beams affect not only the tumor itself but also a tiny part of the healthy tissue around it.

„Such preventive irradiation of the so-called “margin” around the tumor minimizes the probability of the disease’s recurrence. But, it also limits the irradiation of the tumor with a high dose due to the possible side effects such as damage to the optic nerves or memory,“ adds Dr. Martišíková.

Ideally, the irradiation area around the tumor could be narrowed, and the dose to the tumor could be increased. However, current technology does not allow for sufficiently precise targeting of the ions.

This could be addressed by a new device Beam TraX supplied by the Prague company ADVACAM. The „navigation“ of the ion beams inside the head could be improved by tracking some secondary particles created when ions pass through the patient’s head. One could think of this as observing the dust rising behind a fast-moving car.

An insufficiently reliable “map”

A patient undergoing several weeks of ion radiotherapy must first undergo an X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT image of the inside of the head is essentially used as a “map” to target the tumor with ion beams. According to this “map”, the imaginary “car” drives.

But there is a problem. The situation inside the patient’s head can change during the therapy. The original “map” may differ from the current state inside the skull. This could be due to tissue swelling, tumor shrinkage, or an infection. Until now, physicians lacked a reliable tool to alert them in case of a change in the situation thus reducing the precision of the applied therapy..

Together with ADVACAM, scientists in Germany are now coming up with a promising improvement. Its core consists of particle detectors.

“Our cameras can register every charged particle of secondary radiation emitted from the patient’s body. It’s like watching balls scattered by a billiard shot. If the balls bounce as expected according to the CT image, we can be sure we are targeting correctly. Otherwise, it’s clear that the ‘map’ no longer applies. Then it is necessary to replan the treatment,” describes Lukáš Marek from ADVACAM.

Sparing healthy tissue and enhancing precision

In the fall of 2023, experts in Germany started the clinical study „InViMo“ to verify the potential of this new device. They are focusing on patients with tumors near the base of the skull. This area is challenging to access for irradiation due to the proximity of essential structures like the brainstem.

“We hope the new device will show us how often and where the tumor changes occur. It‘s typically just several millimeters during the therapy. We are also interested in areas where no changes occur or are smaller than assumed. It will allow us to reduce the overall irradiated volume of tissue. At the same time, it will save healthy tissue and reduce the side effects of radiotherapy. We will also be able to apply higher doses of radiation to the tumor. The dose to the healthy tissue will remain below an acceptable limit,” adds Mária Martišíková, the head of the team at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

The presence of detectors does not affect the existing therapy. It can only benefit from the additional information obtained. In the first phase, data could lead to an interruption and replanning of the irradiation series in case the treatment does not go according to plan. The ultimate goal is a system that would correct the path of the ion beam in real-time.

From particle physics to hospitals

The technology is derived from detectors that helped discover, for example, the famous Higgs boson at CERN. What was initially created for fundamental research is now intended to help treating cancer.

“When we started developing pixel detectors for the LHC we had one target in mind – to detect and image each particle interaction and thereby help physicists to unravel the secrets of Nature at high energies. The Timepix detectors are developed by the multidisciplinary Medipix Collaborations whose aims were to take the same technology to new fields. Many of those fields were completely unforeseen at the beginning and this application is a brilliant example of that,” says Michael Campbell, Spokesperson of the Medipix Collaborations.

Learn More:

Peer-reviewed paper about the metod in Medical Physics journal

Are you curious about how our technology can improve your field?  

We are ready to answer any inquiries

• A polychromatic X-ray beam is easy to get directly from a common X-ray tube reaching high intensity => system is faster, smaller, much less complex.
• The high resolution detector can be placed close to the sample covering a large solid angle => mechanical angular scanning is not needed => fast data accumulation.
• Broad energy range (3 – 150 keV): Even very absorbing samples can be analyzed (stainless steel, heavy metals and minerals).

A combination of all these benefits brings acceleration by two orders of magnitude.

Examples

Several illustrative measurements are shown in the image below. The measurements performed in transmission mode (X-ray beam penetrates through the sample, detector is placed behind of it) with polychromatic X-ray beam of 80 kVp (or 160 kVp for metallic samples shown in the middle) collimated to 0.5 x 0.5 mm, sample to detector distance of 25 mm. The last column of organic samples (wood, carbon fibers plastic) shows anisotropic scattering patterns instead of XRD patterns. Measured in DTU laboratory by Jan Kehres (DTU) and Jan Jakubek (ADVACAM).

Color coding in these images shows powder signal in red, reflections from larger crystals in green and mean energy in blue.

Recrystallization due to annealing

Example of annealing due to spot welding of two 1 mm thick sheets of stainless steel is shown below. The texture of grain orientation caused by rolling is gradually annealed out in proximity to the weld area. The texture is presented as four bright spots between two rings close to the image diagonals in frame 1). These spots are gradually stretched in frame 2) till they cover whole circle in frame 3) indicating that directional organization of grains is getting more and more isotropic due to annealing.

It is important to remind that this measurement is showing material properties in its whole volume not only at the surface as often done by standard XRD.

This measurement was performed with X-ray beam of 160 kVp to get good signal through 2 mm of stainless steel. Result is shown after transformation to 50 keV.

XRD of 5 mm thick lead ore – is it possible?

The traditional XRD method in transmission geometry is difficult to be used for highly absorbing materials since it is very difficult to create monochromatic X-rays with energy high enough to penetrate them. The only way would be usage of large synchrotron sources.

Here we show the X-ray diffraction pattern for 5 mm thick lead ore with Pb content of 30% measured with a standard X-ray tube. The measurement was performed at 160 kVp. The image shows two selected energy channels: the first represents the maximum of the transmitted spectrum below the K absorption edge of lead at 70 keV and the second shows maximum above the K-edge at 120 keV. The diffraction rings are seen clearly for both energies. The transmission spectrum is shown as well (green line).

How does it work?

A basic principle of the “Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction” (#EDXRD) with our spectral imaging detector is described in the following animation. It illustrates powder diffraction in transmission geometry.

Instead of taking single diffraction image accumulating all X-ray energies (wavelengths) into single image as performed in traditional XRD apparatus, we record about 150 images – one for each energy channel (usually 1 keV wide). Then using Bragg formula we transform (stretch or shrink) each of these particular images to fit one selected energy (e.g. 40 keV) and then we sum all of them getting single final image with high statistics. This way all primary energies contribute to the image instead of being lost in monochromator. The measurement is therefore significantly faster.

The transformation (shrinking) of each individual image for particular energy channel to one selected energy is shown in next animation for silicon powder sample.

The X-ray beam size was 0.5 x 0.5 mm and the sample thickness was about 1 mm. The spectral images in interval from 20 to 40 keV are used. The energy channel image (left) is recalculated to 40 keV (right) and then all off them are summed up.

The following example of diffraction in single crystal of Silicon wafer is even more illustrative.

It shows individual spectral images transformed to 40 keV. Then it shows circular integration, energy spectra for all reflections and determination of lattice constant d (measured as 54 pm).

Choice of sensor material

The #Timepix3 detector sensitivity is defined by its sensor chip material and thickness. Generally speaking: The thinner silicon sensors provide better energy resolution, while thicker or #CdTe and #CZT sensors provide better sensitivity for high X-ray energies. Next picture shows comparison of several sensor types for XRD of a silicon powder.

The influence of energy range and energy resolution for different sensors can be illustrated by following maps:

The horizontal axis is energy [E], vertical axis is ring radius [r]. Each point [E,r] in this map has intensity calculated from measured spectral image for energy E as integral along the ring with radius r. So, for the ideal sensor there should be narrow lines spreading over the whole X axis and signal out of these lines would be zero. Narrow lines express fine energy resolution (narrower better), signal out of lines represents the background (smaller better) and the length of lines along X axis shows the energy range (longer is better).

The thin Si sensor (left most image) has the best energy resolution (thin lines) but narrowest energy range (short lines). The 2 mm thick CdTe and CZT sensors provide broadest energy range (lines stretch over the whole X axis) but much worse energy resolution (broad lines).

Angular resolution

The XRD resolving power (angular resolution) of the described system depends on three factors: a) Pencil beam size, b) sample thickness, c) detector energy resolution. In all presented pictures of this article the two first factors dominate.

The influence of energy resolution to angular resolution depends on lattice constant d and energy. Generally speaking: higher energy better angular resolution and smaller lattice constant worse angular resolution. For instance angular resolution achieved with thin Silicon sensor for silicon crystal sample at energy of 40 keV is 0.5 deg rms (3.1%), while at 60 keV it is 0.28 deg rms (2.5%). For iron sample at energy of 40 keV the resolution is 1.16 deg rms (3.4%), while at 60 keV it is 0.56 deg (2.6%). It is important to note that detection efficiency of Silicon sensor at 60 keV is already very low.

X-ray diffraction in general

The X-ray diffraction technique is used for inspection of crystalline structure of samples on macro- or microscopic level. It provides information on crystal types (phase), crystallization level, granularity, grain orientation or texture. All these phenomena affect mechanical material properties such as hardness, fragility, ductility, abrasivity or abrasion resistance. The #XRD can be used also for internal strain mapping especially after special technological steps such as welding, surface hardening or annealing. The #XRD method is often used as analytical method in mineralogy and mining.

Are you curious about how our technology can improve your field?  

We are ready to answer any inquiries