High-quality scientific x-ray cameras and detectors are the central elements for data collection in many experimental systems: beamlines and endstations are often finely tuned based on their capabilities. Available, high-speed, efficient, and single-photon-sensitive detectors are critical for the success of the ALS’s scientific capabilities. Yet, for soft x-ray photon energies, the worldwide market is relatively small and lags behind comparable hard x-ray tools. High-speed commercial soft x-ray detectors are often unavailable at the specifications we require.
The scientists in Berkeley Lab’s Detectors Program provide innovative area sensors for a variety of light- and charged-particle-based applications, including several ALS experiments. Current developments are focused on the VeryFastCCD (VFCCD) platform. The VFCCD, with a 5 kHz frame rate, is the successor to the 100-Hz FastCCD (FCCD) deployed at the ALS. The VFCCD is a high-speed, full column-parallel CCD sensor. Integration of the VFCC with real-time analysis and control systems will open new windows on system dynamics and improve experiment throughput levels well beyond current capabilities.
