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Register a new userDirect X-ray Imaging of $mu$m precision using Back-Illuminated CCD
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A charge-coupled device (CCD) is a standard imager in optical region in which the image quality is limited by its pixel size. CCDs also function in X-ray region but with substantial differences in performance. An optical photon generates only one electron while an X-ray photon generates many electrons at a time. We developed a method to precisely determine the X-ray point of interaction with subpixel resolution. In particular, we found that a back-illuminated CCD efficiently functions as a fine imager. We present here the validity of our method through an actual imaging experiment.
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A simple X-ray imaging system using off-the-shelf electronics and simple reconstruction algorithms aiming a spatial resolution of 1.7 mm ($sim 3,%$ of the detector length) is described in this work. For this, two 100 cm$^2$ Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) foils with a thickness of 100 mu m (2-fold thicker than the standard ones) were immersed in a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide (70:30). The charge readout with 2D position determination was done with resistive charge division. Due to their higher thickness with respect to the standard GEMs, the 100 mu m thick GEM foils were found to be less prone to damage caused by the electrical discharges. X-ray images are shown and some descriptions of the physical processes involved are presented. We describe the advantages of this method that allows counting each X-ray photon or particle entering the detector, its interaction position, as well as measuring of its energy. The results of our present work show a position resolution below 2 mm, being limited by the gas mixture used, and not the detecting system, with a very good cost effectiveness. Future work is being carried out to optimize the present system for a medical application as a proton beam monitor.
The quantum efficiency and reflectivity of thick, back-illuminated CCDs being fabricated at LBNL for astronomical applications are modeled and compared with experiment. The treatment differs from standard thin-film optics in that (a) absorption is permitted in any film, (b) the 200--500~$mu$m thick silicon substrate is considered as a thin film in order to observe the fringing behavior at long wavelengths, and (c) by using approximate boundary conditions, absorption in the surface films is separated from absorption in the substrate. For the quantum efficiency measurements the CCDs are normally operated as CCDs, usually at $T = -140^circ$C, and at higher temperatures as photodiodes. They are mounted on mechanical substrates. Reflectivity is measured on air-backed wafer samples at room temperature. The agreement between model expectation and quantum efficiency measurement is in general satisfactory.
We report the radiation hardness of a p-channel CCD developed for the X-ray CCD camera onboard the XRISM satellite. This CCD has basically the same characteristics as the one used in the previous Hitomi satellite, but newly employs a notch structure of potential for signal charges by increasing the implant concentration in the channel. The new device was exposed up to approximately $7.9 times 10^{10} mathrm{~protons~cm^{-2}}$ at 100 MeV. The charge transfer inefficiency was estimated as a function of proton fluence with an ${}^{55} mathrm{Fe}$ source. A device without the notch structure was also examined for comparison. The result shows that the notch device has a significantly higher radiation hardness than those without the notch structure including the device adopted for Hitomi. This proves that the new CCD is radiation tolerant for space applications with a sufficient margin.
Frequency combs have triggered an impressive evolution of optical metrology across diverse regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, from the ultraviolet to the terahertz frequencies. An unexplored territory, however, remains in the region of vibrational bending modes, mostly due to the lack of single-mode lasers in the long-wavelength (LW) part of the mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum. We fill this gap through a purely MIR-based nonlinear laser source with tunability from 12.1 to 14.8 $mu$m, optical power up to 110 $mu$W, MHz-level linewidth and comb calibration. This enables the first example of bending modes metrology in this region, with the assessment of several CO$_2$-based frequency benchmarks with uncertainties down to 30 kHz, and the accurate study of the $ u_{11}$ band of benzene, which is a significant testbed for the resolution of the spectrometer. These achievements pave the way for LW-MIR metrology, rotationally-resolved studies and astronomic observations of large molecules, such as aromatic hydrocarbons.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will search for planets transiting bright stars with Ic<13. TESS has been selected by NASA for launch in 2018 as an Astrophysics Explorer mission, and is expected to discover a thousand or more planets that are smaller in size than Neptune. TESS will employ four wide-field optical charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras with a band-pass of 650 nm-1050 nm to detect temporary drops in brightness of stars due to planetary transits. The 1050 nm limit is set by the quantum efficiency (QE) of the CCDs. The detector assembly consists of four back-illuminated MIT Lincoln Laboratory CCID-80 devices. Each CCID-80 device consists of 2048x2048 imaging array and 2048x2048 frame store regions. Very precise on-ground calibration and characterization of CCD detectors will significantly assist in the analysis of the science data obtained in space. The characterization of the absolute QE of the CCD detectors is a crucial part of the characterization process because QE affects the performance of the CCD significantly over the redder wavelengths at which TESS will be operating. An optical test bench with significantly high photometric stability has been developed to perform precise QE measurements. The design of the test setup along with key hardware, methodology, and results from the test campaign are presented.
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