Super X-ray Detector  

The Super SDD is the newest X-ray detector technological advancement at Amptek (USA). The Super SDD is a 25 mm2 x 500 μm super silicon drift detector (SDD), with unsurpassed performance of 127 eV FWHM resolution; 11.2 μs peaking time; and a peak to background ratio of 8,000.

The super silicon drift detector (SDD) enables extremely high count rate applications with excellent energy resolution. The detector is housed inside the same TO-8 package as Amptek’s other detectors, so its form-factor is a direct replacement for current systems and is compatible with all Amptek accessories and options.

The Super SDD’s low price, high performance and small size make it the ideal detector for OEM hand-held applications to bench-top analysers. The X-ray detector, reamplifier, and cooler system is thermoelectrically cooled. Also mounted on the 2-stage cooler are the input FET and a novel feedback circuit. These components are kept at approximately -55 °C, and are monitored by an internal temperature sensor. The hermetic TO-8 package of the detector has a light tight, vacuum tight thin Beryllium window to enable soft X-ray detection.

Amptek Inc. is a world leader in supplying low cost thermoelectrically cooled X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Detectors and Electronics for the OEM. The Super SDD, Si-PIN, and CdTe detectors, Preamplifiers and Digital Pulse Processors (DPP), are ideal for OEMs developing table-top or hand-held XRF analysers. Applications include RoHS/WEEE, Process Control and Alloy/Lead analysis. For their high reliability and performance, AMPTEK detectors were selected to perform XRF on the surface of Mars.