Towards hard X-ray imaging at GHz frame rate

TL;DR

This paper explores methods to achieve gigahertz frame rate hard X-ray imaging, crucial for high-temperature plasma and advanced photon research, by analyzing single-photon detection modes and proposing two potential technological paths.

Contribution

It introduces two innovative approaches—avalanche photodiode arrays and microchannel plate photomultipliers—for GHz frame rate X-ray imaging using a single camera.

Findings

Analysis of single-photon detection advantages and trade-offs.

Proposal of avalanche photodiode arrays for high-speed X-ray detection.

Proposal of microchannel plate photomultipliers with high refractive index materials.

Abstract

Gigahertz (GHz) imaging using hard X-rays ($\gtrsim$ 10 keV) can be useful to high-temperature plasma experiments, as well as research using coherent photons from synchrotron radiation and X-ray free electron lasers. GHz framing rate can be achieved by using multiple cameras through multiplexing. The advantages and trade-offs of single-photon detection mode, when no more than one X-ray photon is detected per pixel, are given. Two possible paths towards X-ray imaging at GHz frame rates using a single camera are a.) Avalanche photodiode arrays of high-Z materials and b.) Microchannel plate photomultipliers in conjunction with materials with large indices of refraction.