The Detectors and Design and Engineering groups at SOLEIL, in collaboration with Paris-Sud Orsay University, have designed, developed, manufactured and assembled a new camera dedicated to full-field hard X-ray tomography and to practical with students. This technique enables detailed, non-destructive imaging of internal structures in thick samples. This type of camera will be used on three hard X- ray beam-lines at SOLEIL: PUMA, ANATOMIX et PSICHE.
This camera is fast, sensitive and has a high spatial resolution. It is based on a YAG: Ce (Crytur) ultra-thin (20μm freestanding on diameter 9mm) scintillator coupled to a PCO Edge, new generation scientific CMOS camera (2560 x 2160 px), with low noise and high speed (100Hz). The optical system used (QIOPTIC f/4 G3) allows a fixed magnification of 3 and an optimum illumination of the entire sensor. The size of the resulting image is 4.68 mm x 5.55 mm, with 2.16µm pixels.
This camera was fully modeled in order to predict the measured signal as a function of the X-ray flux incident on the scintillator. Similarly, the ultimate spatial resolution (smallest detail measurable by the camera) was analytically calculated. These calculations were in close agreement with repeated measurements obtained on the Metrology and PSICHE beam-lines during full characterization of the imaging system.
This achievement shows that SOLEIL groups are able to design instrumentation systems from A to Z and respond well to the needs of beamlines. This success is based on experience acquired in constructing imaging systems (beam imaging, X-ray camera, etc.), as well as in modeling and analysis methods. The rigor of the Design Engineering Group (design and workshop) and the availability of the X-ray beam on the Metrologybeamline are all important factors.
Thus, the first phase-contrast tomography reconstruction of a small insect (moth head) has been carried out on the Metrology beamline and clearly demonstrates the performance of this X-ray imaging detector.