Applications and new developments in X-ray materials analysis with MEDIPIX2

The detection system is a key part of an X-ray analysis system. Important developments in detection technology based on photon counting pixel chips, such as the MEDIPIX2 chip [1] are under way. This paper describes the results of the technology transfer collaboration with CERN and the associated MEDIPIX collaboration. Some preliminary results of some first experiments revealing basic detector properties will be presented. Furthermore, some examples of typical applications in X-ray diffraction will be shown and the expectations for later integration of pixel detectors discussed. A partnership consortium has recently been established, the partners being IMEC and CANBERRA in Belgium and NIKHEF and PANalytical in the Netherlands. A new EUREKA detector project (RELAXD: High REsolution Large Area X-ray Detector) has been initiated by the partners and approved for funding by the ministry of economic affairs in NL. Aim is to make technologies available that lead to large area pixel detectors with minimized dead spaces and high-speed data read-out. This concept will be explained. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.