X-ray imaging and spectroscopy with Controlled-Drift Detectors:: experimental results and perspectives

The Controlled-Drift Detector (CDD) is a fully depleted silicon detector that allows 2-D position sensing and energy spectroscopy of X-rays in the range 1-30 keV with excellent time resolution. Its distinctive feature is the simultaneous readout of the charge packets stored in the detector by means of a uniform electrostatic field leading to readout times of few mus/cm. The achieved room temperature energy resolution at the Mn Kalpha line is better than 300 eV FWHM at 60 kHz and improves at higher frame frequencies thanks to the short integration time. In this paper, we present the characterization of the imaging and timing properties of two CDD prototypes. Time resolved 2-D images in the microsecond range as well as X-ray radiographies will be presented. Details of the design of a new 6 x 6 mm(2) prototype will be presented and the preliminary measurements will be discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.