Invited article: The fast readout low noise camera as a versatile x-ray detector for time resolved dispersive extended x-ray absorption fine structure and diffraction studies of dynamic problems in materials science, chemistry, and catalysis

TLDR

The fast readout low noise (FReLoN) detector, originally developed at ESRF for rapid x‑ray imaging, uniquely combines high dynamic range and high readout speed, overcoming the typical trade‑off and duty‑cycle limitations of commercial CCD cameras. The study aims to develop and demonstrate a FReLoN camera for time‑resolved experiments at ESRF. The camera was built by the Instrument Support Group at ESRF and applied in quasi‑one‑dimensional experiments requiring millisecond‑scale data acquisition in materials science, catalysis, and chemistry. The FReLoN camera successfully captures rapid changes in long‑range order via diffraction and local order via energy‑dispersive EXAFS, handling x‑ray hardness and flux beyond the capacity of other detectors.

Abstract

Originally conceived and developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) as an “area” detector for rapid x-ray imaging studies, the fast readout low noise (FReLoN) detector of the ESRF [J.-C. Labiche, ESRF Newsletter 25, 41 (1996)] has been demonstrated to be a highly versatile and unique detector. Charge coupled device (CCD) cameras at present available on the public market offer either a high dynamic range or a high readout speed. A compromise between signal dynamic range and readout speed is always sought. The parameters of the commercial cameras can sometimes be tuned, in order to better fulfill the needs of specific experiments, but in general these cameras have a poor duty cycle (i.e., the signal integration time is much smaller than the readout time). In order to address scientific problems such as time resolved experiments at the ESRF, a FReLoN camera has been developed by the Instrument Support Group at ESRF. This camera is a low noise CCD camera that combines high dynamic range, high readout speed, accuracy, and improved duty cycle in a single image. In this paper, we show its application in a quasi-one-dimensional sense to dynamic problems in materials science, catalysis, and chemistry that require data acquisition on a time scale of milliseconds or a few tens of milliseconds. It is demonstrated that in this mode the FReLoN can be applied equally to the investigation of rapid changes in long range order (via diffraction) and local order (via energy dispersive extended x-ray absorption fine structure) and in situations of x-ray hardness and flux beyond the capacity of other detectors.