Experimental results using a hybrid silicon pixel detector for scintillating fibre readout and X-ray imaging

We report the results obtained with a novel readout system for scintillating fibres and X-ray imaging based on the combination of a silicon pixel detector and one stage of light amplification using a 2nd generation image intensifier. The pixel detector is a hybrid assembly of a high resistivity silicon detector bump-bonded to a CMOS binary readout chip and can be read out at a speed of 15 MHz. Each pixel element measures 75 /spl mu/m/spl times/500 /spl mu/m. Scintillating fibre ribbons and scintillating crystals are coupled to the detector array using one stage of light amplification provided by a micro-channel plate (MCP) image intensifier with fiberoptic faceplates. We have used the system to image electron tracks in a bundle of scintillating fibre ribbons. Further we have shown how the system can be used for imaging 122 keV X-rays such as those used in nuclear medicine. The system provides the possibility of single photon counting, high spatial resolution and Compton rejection.<
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