MAXIPIX, a fast readout photon-counting X-ray area detector for synchrotron applications

TLDR

The study presents the architecture and characteristics of the MAXIPIX detector and summarizes its applications on ESRF beamlines. MAXIPIX comprises a detector module with up to five MEDIPIX‑2 or TIMEPIX photon‑counting chips, a custom readout interface board, and a Linux acquisition workstation, enabling fast photon‑counting readout. The MAXIPIX detector achieves 1.4 kHz frame rate, 55 µm spatial resolution, 290 µs readout time enabling 280–1400 Hz sustained rates, and 60 ns effective time resolution, as demonstrated on ESRF beamlines.

Abstract

A 2D photon-counting X-ray detector system with 1.4 kHz frame rate and 55 μm spatial resolution has been developed and commissionned on ESRF beamlines. The system called MAXIPIX (Multichip Area X-ray detector based on a photon-counting PIXel array) consists of a detector module implementing up to five MEDIPIX-2 or TIMEPIX photon-counting readout chips, a custom readout interface board and a Linux acquisition workstation. The detector module readout time is 290 microseconds, allowing the system to achieve sustained frame rates of 280 Hz to 1400 Hz depending on the number of connected chips. An effective time resolution of 60 ns was measured using the ESRF pulsed modes and a TIMEPIX module. The system architecture and characteristics are presented, as well as a summary of its applications on ESRF beamlines.