I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
Detectors
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John
Matheson
,
Danny
Axford
,
Anna
Bergamaschi
,
Maria
Carulla
,
Nicholas
Devenish
,
Noemi
Frisina
,
Viktoria
Hinger
,
Vadym
Kedych
,
Christopher
Lane
,
Aldo
Mozzanica
,
Eva
Gimenez-Navarro
,
James
O'Hea
,
Dominic
Oram
,
Robin L.
Owen
,
David
Perl
,
Adam
Prescott
,
Bernd
Schmitt
,
Shane
Scully
,
Adam
Taylor
,
Gary
Yendell
,
Graeme
Winter
Open Access
Abstract: A Jungfrau-1M detector has undergone testing at Diamond Light Source. The Jungfrau series of detectors from PSI use integration and adaptive gain, to offer very high frame rate and dynamic range, suitable for high-flux and time-resolved measurements. They are becoming more widely used, to take advantage of increasing light source brightness. We report on our experiences in testing the performance of a Jungfrau-1M without illumination, with a laboratory X-ray tube and on a microfocus beamline. The Jungfrau-1M was found to be able to resolve single photons in the laboratory and on the beamline. It was confirmed that range switching from high to intermediate gain is associated with a discontinuity in the detector response. Two methods of dark frame subtraction were compared for their effect on minimizing this discontinuity. The Jungfrau-1M was found to be very effective for recording macromolecular crystallography diffraction patterns, with no apparent detriment from the discontinuity. The Diamond machine will be upgraded in 2028–9 and will operate at significantly higher flux than at present, necessitating increased use of integrating detectors, such as Jungfrau, in the future.
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Mar 2026
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Detectors
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C. B.
Wunderer
,
M.
Hajheidari
,
A.
Marras
,
Th.
Wendt
,
F.
Anders
,
J.
Correa
,
M.
Dahlgruen
,
J.
Gebert
,
T.
Hirono
,
H.
Hirsemann
,
F.
Krivan
,
S.
Lange
,
S. Y.
Rah
,
I.
Shevyakov
,
V.
Vardanyan
,
M.
Hoesch
,
K.
Bagschik
,
N.
Guerrini
,
B.
Marsh
,
I.
Sedgwick
,
G.
Cautero
,
D.
Giuressi
,
R.
Menk
,
L.
Stebel
,
A.
Greer
,
T.
Nicholls
,
W.
Nichols
,
M.
Nakhostin
,
H. J.
Hyun
,
K. S.
Kim
,
S. H.
Kim
,
S. Y.
Park
,
F. J.
Iguaz
,
H.
Graafsma
Open Access
Abstract: PERCIVAL, “pixellated energy-resolving CMOS imager versatile and large”, is a 2-megapixel soft X-ray imager developed for use at FELs and modern-day synchrotrons. A combination of capabilities is necessary to meet the scientific needs: a large, uninterrupted imaging area with small pixels, high dynamic range, high frame rate, and soft X-ray suitable entrance window to the sensor. A single PERCIVAL sensor offers over 4 cm × 4 cm uninterrupted imaging area (1408 × 1484 pixels of 27 × 27 μm2). Three auto-adapting gains (per pixel per image) provide the large dynamic range from 13 e- noise to over 3 Me- signal. The sensor is designed for up to 300 Hz frame rate, and can be operated faster in ROI mode. The first generation of the sensor was hampered by severe crosstalk preventing parallel operation of ADC, streamout, and pixel switches and by non-uniformity of baselines over the sensor. A revised “respin” sensor addresses these issues at the root — and good noise performance at higher frame rates as well as a more uniform baseline can now be provided to users. The first generation DAQ system — still based on existing Virtex5 hardware — had limitations that ultimately prevented handling the fast data rates from a Percival running at full speed, or other complexities such as ROI operation. A complete overhaul of the percival-specific DAQ components (FPGA with periphery and firmware) today enables acquisition at envisioned frame rates and in ROI mode. This paper summarizes first laboratory results from the respin sensors in combination with the new DAQ hardware and firmware.
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Jan 2026
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I24-Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography
Detectors
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Open Access
Abstract: The JUNGFRAU detector is a charge integrating, high-frame-rate, imaging detector developed by the PSI detector group, originally to support the SwissFEL Aramis beamline. The detector includes adaptive gain switching to give single photon sensitivity whilst also allowing sufficient analogue dynamic range to record ∼10,000 12keV photons. The use of adaptive gains requires a multi-stage data correction procedure, factoring in the pedestal and gain value for each pixel for each gain mode: at 2kHz frame rate this makes for a non-trivial undertaking.
At the SLS a data capture system for this has been developed, JUNGFRAUJOCH which uses a number of Xilinx FPGA boards to read the UDP data stream and perform the correction and the initial stage of data compression, before reading out to the CPU for compression. Whilst this is an effective solution, the technology choice of FPGA high level synthesis for programming has a very high barrier to entry. Some kind of hardware acceleration is however critical to ensure the correction and compression keep up with the data acquisition rate over the long term.
At Diamond we are also acquiring a JUNGFRAU 9M detector, to use for rotation and serial crystallography on beamline I24. This brings us to the challenge: adopt JUNGFRAUJOCH or develop an alternative system, since the wider view of high throughput computing has changed over the last few years. Here we present an alternative system build around the NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip (GH200) which includes a 72 ARM NEOVERSE v2 CPU cores, an NVIDIA H100 GPU and high bandwidth memory (Figure 1). The capabilities of this system allow us to consider building a data capture, correction and initial analysis system to support the JUNGFRAU 9M detector at Diamond Light Source, using far more mainstream technologies (CUDA for the accelerator programming, SLS detector for the front-end data capture) and offering the opportunity to tailor the system to fit in with the use cases being developed at Diamond Light Source beamline I24. This development also takes the opportunity to explore alternative methods for representing the data, keeping the data from modules separated allowing parallelism in data capture and analysis.
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Oct 2025
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Detectors
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Open Access
Abstract: Advances in detector speed and resolution at 4th generation light sources make electron beam stability a critical requirement. At Diamond-II, the fast orbit feedback (FOFB) will stabilise the beam using 252 beam position monitors and two actuator arrays of 252 slow and 138 fast correctors. We previously proposed an approach based on the generalised singular value decomposition (GSVD), a two-matrix factorisation, to decouple the system into two-input modes controlled by both slow and fast correctors, and single-input modes controlled by slow correctors alone. This approach assumed identical dynamics for all correctors within each array. However, recent developments have shown that variations in vessel geometries and cooling channels introduce significant differences in corrector bandwidths, particularly for the slow correctors in the horizontal plane. Specifically, Diamond-II will have at least three distinct types of slow correctors in the horizontal plane. To address this, we extend the GSVD-based approach with balancing input filters to incorporate multiple slow corrector arrays with different dynamics. We also introduce a new regularisation matrix that preserves controller properties between the original and mode spaces for any choice of regularisation parameter. We analyse the resulting control system and present simulation results from preliminary Diamond-II data, demonstrating that the control specifications are met.
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Sep 2025
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B16-Test Beamline
Detectors
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Abstract: In this project sensitivity mapping using a source of focused X-ray microbeam was performed on three fabricated samples (VS-Pt, HPS-Pt and HPS-Al/Pt). The VS-Pt sample was chosen due to its special features such as thin nitrogen lines and substrate area. The source of focused X-ray beam (from synchrotron micro-beam called Diamond Light Source, DLS) was investigated in order to choose the optimum conditions to obtain high resolution images of the nitrogen lines within the sample. Additionally the sensitivity mapping of HPS-Pt and HPS-Al/Pt was investigated to study the effect of beam size, step displacement, bias polarity, annealing, and electrical contact were studied on the homogeneity of current response in order to choose optimum conditions for synchrotron measurements. High spatial resolution maps obtained for VS-Pt sample with a micro step displacement of 10 μm or less. Photocurrent is affected by bias polarity; current at negative bias is higher than at positive bias. There are regions with high current thus taking more time to restore to baseline value. Time rises slowly near nitrogen line with stabilization time increasing with bias. For HPS-Al/Pt, as bias increases, homogeneity of current response does not improve. At different negative biases, HPS-Al/Pt exhibits high dark current, unstable signals, and very low photocurrent. For HPS-Pt, at a bias of +50 and –50 V, current response is uniform becoming more homogenous at 100 V, and improving further as the bias increases up to +200 V; making it the most suitable choice for synchrotron measurements.
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Aug 2025
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Detectors
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N.
Goyal
,
S.
Aplin
,
A.
Balerna
,
P.
Bell
,
J.
Casas
,
M.
Cascella
,
S.
Chatterji
,
C.
Cohen
,
E.
Collet
,
P.
Fajardo
,
E. N.
Gimenez
,
H.
Graafsma
,
H.
Hiresmann
,
F.j.
Iguaz
,
K.
Klementiv
,
K.
Kolodjiez
,
L.
Manzanillas
,
T.
Martin
,
R. H.
Menk
,
M.
Porro
,
M.
Quispe
,
B.
Schmitt
,
S.
Scully
,
M.
Turcato
,
C.
Ward
,
E.
Welter
Abstract: The XAFS-DET work package of the European LEAPS-INNOV project is developing high-purity Germanium detectors for synchrotron applications requiring spectroscopic-grade response. The detectors integrate three key features: (1) newly designed monolithic Germanium sensors optimised to mitigate charge-sharing events, (2) an improved cooling and mechanical design structure supported by thermal simulations, and (3) complete electronic chain featuring a low-noise CMOS technology based preamplifier, enabling high X-ray count rate capability over a broad energy range (5-100 keV). This paper discusses the first integration and characterization of one of the two multi-element Ge detectors at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). The integration phase included validating high-throughput front-end electronics, integrating them with the Ge sensor, and operating them at liquid nitrogen temperature, in addition to the experimental characterization, which consists of electronics noise study and spectroscopic performance evaluation.
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Jul 2025
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Detectors
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E. N.
Gimenez
,
A.
Balerna
,
M.
Cascella
,
S.
Chatterji
,
C.
Cohen
,
P.
Fajardo
,
H.
Graafsma
,
N.
Goyal
,
H.
Hirsemann
,
F. J.
Iguaz
,
K.
Klementiev
,
T.
Kołodziej
,
T.
Martin
,
R. H.
Menk
,
M.
Porro
,
M.
Quispe
,
B.
Schmitt
,
S.
Scully
,
J.
Spiers
,
M.
Turcato
,
C.
Ward
,
E.
Welter
Open Access
Abstract: Recent upgrades in synchrotron radiation facilities, which now produce highly brilliant and coherent beams, result in a broader array of experiments challenging the available detectors. In X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) experiments, detector performance is often a limiting factor, especially with the high photon fluxes from upgraded facilities. Within this context, a consortium of European facilities has joined under the LEAPS-INNOV project to push the current technologies and develop a germanium detector that can operate under high photon fluxes. The latest status of the XAFS detector development is presented here. The project has moved from the design and simulations phase to the assembled stage, with the sensor, electronic chain and mechanics being manufactured and tested. Next steps are focused on integrating all parts together and characterize the detector performance with X-ray beam.
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May 2025
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Detectors
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N.
Goyal
,
S.
Aplin
,
A.
Balerna
,
P.
Bell
,
J.
Casas
,
M.
Cascella
,
S.
Chatterji
,
C.
Cohen
,
E.
Collet
,
G.
Dennis
,
P.
Fajardo
,
E. N.
Gimenez
,
H.
Graafsma
,
H.
Hiresmann
,
F. J.
Iguaz
,
K.
Klementiev
,
T.
Kolodziej
,
L.
Manzanillas
,
T.
Martin
,
R. H.
Menk
,
M.
Porro
,
M.
Quispe
,
B.
Schmitt
,
S.
Scully
,
M.
Turcato
,
C.
Ward
,
E.
Welter
Open Access
Abstract: This study presents a detailed simulation-based analysis of the detection limits of multi-element monolithic Germanium (Ge) detectors to cadmium traces in environmental soil samples. Using the capabilities of the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit in combination with the Solid State Detector Package, we evaluated the detection limit variation with the sample-to-detector distances and photon flux. These simulations were conducted to mimic realistic conditions, with a photon flux measured by the SAMBA beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron facility. Our findings for the detection limit for trace amounts of pollutants in low concentrations like cadmium in the soil provide valuable insights for optimizing experimental setups in environmental monitoring and synchrotron-based applications, where precise detection of trace elements is critical.
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May 2025
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B16-Test Beamline
Detectors
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[32397]
Open Access
Abstract: Sensors for particle tracking detectors are required to provide a maximum active area in addition to fulfilling performance criteria concerning radiation hardness, charge collection and operating conditions (e.g. leakage current, depletion voltage and breakdown voltage). While the requirement for optimised coverage within the tracking detector necessitates a slim sensor edge between active region and physical sensor edge, wider edge regions were found to be beneficial for the sensor performance during an early prototyping phase. In order to study the impact of differently sized edge regions, test structures were used to compare their individual active regions. Measurements of each diode were performed using a micro-focused X-ray beam to map its respective active area. This paper presents measurements of these test structures using AREA-X showing that the active area of a silicon particle tracking sensor does not only depend on the size of its bias ring, but also the size and configuration of its edge structure.
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May 2025
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Detectors
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M.
Hajheidari
,
C. B.
Wunderer
,
J.
Correa
,
A.
Marras
,
S.
Lange
,
M.
Dahlgruen
,
J.
Gebert
,
F.
Krivan
,
I.
Shevyakov
,
V.
Vardanyan
,
Th.
Wendt
,
M.
Hoesch
,
K.
Bagschik
,
N.
Guerrini
,
B.
Marsh
,
I.
Sedgwick
,
T.
Nicholls
,
G.
Cautero
,
D.
Giuressi
,
R. H.
Menk
,
L.
Stebel
,
A.
Greer
,
W.
Nichols
,
M.
Nakhostin
,
H. J.
Hyun
,
K. S.
Kim
,
S. H.
Kim
,
S. Y.
Park
,
S. Y.
Rah
,
E.
Plönjes
,
G.
Brenner
,
K.
Kharitonov
,
F.
Goutierrez
,
T.
Hirono
,
M.
Ruiz-Lopez
,
R.
Pan
,
S.
Gang
,
B.
Keitel
,
S.
Jelinek
,
R.
Radloff
,
H.
Graafsma
Open Access
Abstract: Percival is a CMOS-based imager with 2 megapixels, also called P2M, designed for photon science experiments. The first generation of the P2M sensor showed some performance issues. Specifically, ADCs in full-speed operation mode are affected by crosstalk and show a non-linear and uncorrectable response. A firmware hack to the readout and data acquisition system has been introduced to partially overcome these effects, at the cost of limiting the frame rate to 83 Hz. Moreover, a non-uniform dark response of the sensor pixels is observed, explained by non-uniform bias currents across the chip: two opposite edges of the sensor cannot be digitized when applying biases that have the centre of the sensor operating normally. These issues are addressed in the re-submission of the chip. In this contribution, we present the current status of the detector and the first results from the re-designed sensor.
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May 2025
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