PILATUS: A single photon counting pixel detector for X-ray applications

The hybrid pixel technology combines silicon sensors with CMOS-processing chips by a 2D micro bump-bonding interconnection technology developed at Paul Scherrer Institute [C. Broennimann, E.F. Eikenberry, B. Henrich, R. Horisberger, G. Huelsen, E. Pohl, B. Schmitt, C. Schulze-Briese, M. Suzuki, T. Tomizaki, H. Toyokawa, A. Wagner. J. Synchrotron Rad. 13 (2005) 120 [1]; T. Rohe, C. Broennimann, F. Glaus, J. Gobrecht, S. Heising, M. Horisberger, R. Horisberger, H.C. Kaestl, J. Lehmann, S. Streuli, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. Phys. Res. A 565 (2006) 303 121]. PILATUS hybrid pixel detectors like other instruments [X. Llopart, M. Campell, R. Dinapoli, D. San Segundo, E. Pernigotti. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 49 (2002) 2279 [3]; N. Boudet, J.-F. Berar, L Blanquart, R Breugon, B. Caillot, J.-C. Clemens, I. Koudobine, P. Delpierre. C. Mouget, R. Potheau, I. Valin, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. Phys. Res. A 510 (2003) 41 [411 are operating in the so-called single photon counting mode: Every X-ray quantum is directly converted into an electrical signal and counted by the detector system. Several prototype detectors in various geometries were produced, tested and established at different synchrotron beamlines worldwide. We explain the technology and present some recent highlights from various fields of applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.