Billion-pixel X-ray camera (BiPC-X)

TL;DR

This paper introduces the design and prototype of a billion-pixel X-ray camera (BiPC-X) using commercial CMOS sensors, achieving high quantum efficiency, low noise, and high spatial resolution for advanced X-ray imaging applications.

Contribution

It presents a novel scalable design for billion-pixel X-ray cameras based on CMOS sensors, including device models and experimental validation.

Findings

Validated single X-ray sensitivity and spatial resolution experimentally.

Demonstrated potential for wide FOV and large aperture X-ray measurements.

Proposed modified Birks's law for scintillator light-yield nonproportionality.

Abstract

The continuing improvement in quantum efficiency (above 90% for single visible photons), reduction in noise (below 1 electron per pixel), and shrink in pixel pitch (less than 1 micron) motivate billion-pixel X-ray cameras (BiPC-X) based on commercial CMOS imaging sensors. We describe BiPC-X designs and prototype construction based on flexible tiling of commercial CMOS imaging sensors with millions of pixels. Device models are given for direct detection of low energy X-rays ($<$ 10 keV) and indirect detection of higher energies using scintillators. Modified Birks's law is proposed for light-yield nonproportionality in scintillators as a function of X-ray energy. Single X-ray sensitivity and spatial resolution have been validated experimentally using laboratory X-ray source and the Argonne Advanced Photon Source. Possible applications include wide field-of-view (FOV) or large X-ray aperture measurements in high-temperature plasmas, the state-of-the-art synchrotron, X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL), and pulsed power facilities.