The Adaptive Gain Integrating Pixel Detector at the European XFEL

TL;DR

The AGIPD is a high-speed, low-noise x-ray detector with adaptive gain, designed for the European XFEL, capable of capturing over 350 images at 6.5 MHz with single-photon sensitivity.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design, implementation, and performance of the AGIPD, a novel adaptive gain integrating pixel detector for high-speed x-ray imaging at XFELs.

Findings

Achieved less than 1 keV noise for single-photon detection

Supported over 350 images at 6.5 MHz burst rate

Successfully deployed and used at the European XFEL since 2017

Abstract

The Adaptive Gain Integrating Pixel Detector (AGIPD) is an x-ray imager, custom designed for the European x-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL). It is a fast, low noise integrating detector, with an adaptive gain amplifier per pixel. This has an equivalent noise of less than 1 keV when detecting single photons and, when switched into another gain state, a dynamic range of more than 10$^4$ photons of 12 keV. In burst mode the system is able to store 352 images while running at up to 6.5 MHz, which is compatible with the 4.5 MHz frame rate at the European XFEL. The AGIPD system was installed and commissioned in August 2017, and successfully used for the first experiments at the Single Particles, Clusters and Biomolecules (SPB) experimental station at the European XFEL since September 2017. This paper describes the principal components and performance parameters of the system.