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 Figure 1. Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) in the XR100 and PX5. |
Silicon Drift Detector (SDD)125 eV Resolution!All solid state designNo more liquid nitrogen! |
 Figure 2. Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) Element. |
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The XR-100SDD is a new high performance x-ray detector, preamplifier, and cooler system using a thermoelectrically cooled Silicon Drift Detector (SDD). 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. The XR-100SDD represents a breakthrough in x-ray detector technology by providing "off-the-shelf" performance previously available only from expensive cryogenically cooled systems. |
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Features
Additional InformationAccessories |
Applications
  Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) OEM configurations. | |
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The Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) is the latest addition to Amptek's line of x-ray detectors that revolutionized the industry. Its high performance, small size, and low cost make it the ideal detector for OEM hand-held applications to bench-top analyzers. The 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.
A silicon drift detector (SDD) is a type of photodiode, functionally similar to a PIN photodiode, but with a unique electrode structure to improve performance. Amptek’s SDDs are optimized for X-ray spectroscopy.
The key advantage of the SDD is that it has much lower capacitance than a conventional diode of the same area, therefore reducing electronic noise at short shaping times. For X-ray spectroscopy, an SDD has better energy resolution while operating at much higher count rates than a conventional diode. The SDD uses a special electrode structure to guide the electrons to a very small, low capacitance anode.
Click here for more information on Amptek silicon drift detectors (SDD).
| General | |
| Detector Type | Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) |
| Detector Size | 25 mm2 |
| Silicon Thickness | 500 µm, See efficiency curves |
| Collimator | Multilayer, click here for more information |
| Energy Resolution @ 5.9 keV (55Fe) | 125 - 140 eV FWHM at 11.2 µ peaking time |
| Peak to Background | 20,000:1 (ratio of counts from 5.9 keV to 1 keV) (typical) |
| Detector Window Options | Beryllium (Be): 0.5 mil (12.5 µm) or 0.3 mil (8 µm), See transmission curves
C Series: Low energy windows |
| Collimator | Internal MultiLayer Collimator (ML). Click here for more information. |
| Charge Sensitive Preamplifier | Amptek custom reset preamplifier. |
| Gain Stability | <20 ppm/°C (typical) |
| XR100SDD Case Size | 3.00 x 1.75 x 1.13 in (7.6 x 4.4 x 2.9 cm) Click here for mechanical dimensions |
| XR100SDD Weight | 4.4 ounces (125 g) |
| Total Power | <2 Watt |
| Warranty Period | 1 Year |
| Typical Device Lifetime | 5 to 10 years, depending on use |
| Operation conditions | 0°C to +50°C |
| Storage and Shipping | Long term storage: 10+ years in dry environment Typical Storage and Shipping: -20°C to +50°C, 10 to 90% humidity non condensing |
 | TUV Certification Certificate #: CU 72072412 02 Tested to: UL 61010-1: 2004 R7 .05 CAN/CSA-C22.2 61010-1: 2004 |
| Inputs | |
| Preamp Power | ±8 to 9 V @ 15 mA with no more than 50 mV peak-to-peak noise |
| Detector Power | -95 to -160 V @ 25 µA very stable <0.1% variation |
| Cooler Power | Current = 450 mA maximum, voltage = 3.5 V maximum with <100 mV peak-to-peak noise Note: the XR-100SDD includes its own temperature controller |
| Outputs | |
| Preamplifier Sensitivity | 1 mV/keV typical (may vary for different detectors) |
| Preamplifier Polarity | Positive signal output (1 kohm maximum load) |
| Preamplifier Feedback | Reset |
| Temperature Monitor Sensitivity | PX5/X-123: direct reading in Kelvin through software. |
| Options | |
| X-123SDD | The silicon drift detector (SDD) is also available in the X-123SDD configuration. The X-123SDD configuration includes the detector, preamplifier, DP5 digital pulse processor and MCA, and the PC5 power supply. All that is needed is a +5 Volts DC input and a USB, RS232, or Ehthernet connection to your computer.
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| Vacuum Accessories | The SDD is compatible with all Amptek vacuum accessories |
| OEM | The SDD is compatible with all Amptek OEM configurations. |
The silicon drift detector (SDD) requires negative high voltage and produces a positive preamplifier output. This is the opposite of the standard Si-PIN which requires positive high voltage and produces a negative preamplifier output.
The PX5 can produce both negative and positive high voltage. When the PX5 is ordered with an XR100SDD, the PX5 is set for negative high voltage. Using a Si-PIN XR100CR with a negative high voltage setting will destroy the Si-PIN XR100CR and will not be covered under warranty. Likewise, if the PX5 was ordered with a Si-PIN XR100CR, using a positive high voltage with an XR100SDD will destroy the silicon drift detector (SDD) detector and not be covered under warranty.
Most of Amptek’s detectors contain internal collimators to improve spectral quality. X-rays interacting near the edges of the active volume of the detector may produce small pulses due to partial charge collection. These pulses result in artifacts in the spectrum which, for some applications, obscure the signal of interest. The internal collimator restricts X-rays to the active volume, where clean signals are produced. Depending on the type of detector, collimators can
The XR-100SDD can be operated in air or in vacuum down to 10-8 Torr. There are two ways the XR-100SDD can be operated in vacuum: 1) The entire XR-100SDD detector and preamplifier box can be placed inside the chamber. In order to avoid overheating and dissipate the 1 Watt of power needed to operate the XR-100SDD, good heat conduction to the chamber walls should be provided by using the four mounting holes. An optional Model 9DVF 9-Pin D vacuum feedthrough connector on a Conflat is available to connect the XR-100SDD to a PX5 outside the vacuum chamber. 2) The XR-100SDD can be located outside the vacuum chamber to detect X-Rays inside the chamber through a standard Conflat compression O-ring port. Optional Model EXV9 (9 inch) vacuum detector extender is available for this application. Click here for more information on vacuum applications and options.
Figure 4. XR100SDD Detector Extender Options for Vacuum Applications.
Figure 5. Custom Beamline Application with the SDD. Four (4) SDD detectors mounted on a custom flange for high count rate beamline applications.
Figure 6. Resolution vs. Peaking Time for the silicon drift detector (SDD).
Figure 7. Comparison of Resolution vs. Peaking/Shaping Time for Si-PIN and SDD Detectors.
Figure 8. Resolution vs. Input Count Rate for different peaking times for the silicon drift detector (SDD) with the DP5.
The plot also shows the curve of maximum output count rate. Operating to the right of that curve results in less throughput than the maximum despite a higher input rate. See figure 9 below.
Figure 9. Throuhgput with the silicon drift detector (SDD). Due to the detector’s smaller capacitance, a much shorter peaking time is used in the shaping amplifier without sacrificing resolution. Typically 9.6 µs or less is used. This dramatically increases the throughput of the system.
Figure 10. 55Fe spectrum with 4 million counts in the peak channel taken with the silicon drift detector (SDD).
Figure 11. Resolution vs. Energy for Different Peaking Times taken with the silicon drift detector (SDD).
Figure 12. The figure combines the effects of transmission through the Beryllium window (including the protective coating), and interaction in the silicon drift detector (SDD). The low energy portion of the curve is dominated by the thickness of the Beryllium window - either 0.3 mil (8 µm) or 0.5 mil (12.5 µm), while the high energy portion is dominated by the thickness of the active depth of the Silicon drift detector (SDD) - 500 µm.
Efficiency Package: A ZIP file of coefficients and a FAQ about efficiency. This pacakge is provided for general information. It should not be used as a basis for critical quantitative analysis.
Figure 13. XRF of stainless steel SS316 taken with the silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 14. RoHS/WEEE PVC sample taken with the silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 15. CaCl2 solution (800 ppm Ca, 1200 ppm Cl) taken with silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 16. Sulphur in crude oil (1100 ppm) with some KCl taken with silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 17. Automotive Catalyst taken with silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 18. Platinum (Pt) ring XRF taken with silicon drift detector (SDD) and the Mini-X x-ray tube.
Figure 19. The XR100SDD and Mini-X on the MP1 mounting plate.
Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) specifications in PDF format.
Application Note AN-SDD-001: Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) at High Count Rates (pdf 270k).
Application Note AN-SDD-003: Amptek Silicon Drift Detectors
Revised May 9, 2013
