XSpectra®: an Advanced Real-Time Food Contaminants Detector

Garavelli, Bruno; Pozzi, P.; Macera, D.; Zanotti, L.; Mencarelli, Alessandra; Bubba, G.; Bertoni, P.; Sammartini, M.; Bettelli, Manuele; Bertuccio, G.; Ghiringhelli, G.; Zappettini, A.

doi:10.1109/nss/mic42101.2019.9059829

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) systems are object of increasing research interest due to their large impact in scientific, medical, and industrial applications, from computed tomography (CT) to inline inspection in food and pharma production chains, or material recycling processes [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Among compound semiconductors, detectors based on Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) are promising candidates for the development of next-generation ERPC systems, mainly competing with Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) detectors for room temperature operation, both being characterized by a wide band-gap, high stopping power, and the possibility to be realized in thick pixelated structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics

Mele

Quercia

Abbene

et al. 2023

Sensors

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Radiation detectors based on Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) compounds are becoming popular solutions thanks to their high detection efficiency, room temperature operation, and to their reliability in compact detection systems for medical, astrophysical, or industrial applications. However, despite a huge effort to improve the technological process, CZT detectors’ full potential has not been completely exploited when both high spatial and energy resolution are required by the application, especially at low energies (<10 keV), limiting their application in energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) systems. This gap can also be attributed to the lack of dedicated front-end electronics which can bring out the best in terms of detector spectroscopic performances. In this work, we present the latest results achieved in terms of energy resolution using SIRIO, a fast low-noise charge sensitive amplifier, and a linear-array pixel detector, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman-grown B-VB CZT crystals. The detector features a 0.25-mm pitch, a 1-mm thickness and is operated at a −700-V bias voltage. An equivalent noise charge of 39.2 el. r.m.s. (corresponding to 412 eV FWHM) was measured on the test pulser at 32 ns peaking time, leading to a raw resolution of 1.3% (782 eV FWHM) on the 59 keV line at room temperature (+20 °C) using an uncollimated 241Am, largely improving the current state of the art for CZT-based detection systems at such short peaking times, and achieving an optimum resolution of 0.97% (576 eV FWHM) at 1 µs peaking time. The measured energy resolution at the 122 keV line and with 1 µs peaking time of a 57Co raw uncollimated spectrum is 0.96% (1.17 keV). These activities are in the framework of an Italian collaboration on the development of energy-resolved X-ray scanners for material recycling, medical applications, and non-destructive testing in the food industry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics

Mele

Quercia

Abbene

et al. 2023

Sensors

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“…In recent years, this class of detectors have found promising industrial applications in real-time non-destructive inspection systems [4,5]. A successful example is XSpectra ® [6,7], a patented inspection technology aiming at improving the current limits in real-time roomtemperature detection of low density contaminants, with applications in food quality, material recycling, pharmaceutical safety and security.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental characterization of a fast X-ray spectroscopic imager module using the ALTAIR P3 ASIC for real-time contaminants detection

Quercia

Mele

Macera³

et al. 2023

J. Inst.

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X-ray imagers with spectroscopic capabilities and high photon count rates are finding promising applications in industrial real-time inspection systems. In this context, XSpectra® combines a CdTe-based linear energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) pixel sensor with real-time image processing techniques to detect low and high density contaminants. The detection unit makes use of a new analog read-out ASIC that has been designed by Politecnico di Milano to meet strict application requirements both in energy resolution and achievable photon count rate. A room-temperature low-rate spectroscopic characterization of the system at a peaking time of 60 ns showed an average equivalent noise charge of 259 electrons r.m.s. (2.72 keV FWHM in CdTe) and an average FWHM of the 59.5 keV 241Am line of 3.6 keV, with a 3σ dispersion in noise performance of ±10% over 256 channels. The detection unit was tested in high incoming photon flux conditions by means of an X-ray tube. Minimal spectral distortion due to pile-up events is obtained up to an Incoming Count Rate of 2.5 Mcps/channel, while the maximum counting capability of energy-resolved events is 2.2 Mcps/channel.

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Emilio Gatti the Life and the Worldwide Heritage of a Founding Father of Electronics for Physics

Bertuccio

2023

2023 8th IEEE History of Electrotechnology Conference (HISTELCON)

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XSpectra®: an Advanced Real-Time Food Contaminants Detector

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics

Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics

Experimental characterization of a fast X-ray spectroscopic imager module using the ALTAIR P3 ASIC for real-time contaminants detection

Emilio Gatti the Life and the Worldwide Heritage of a Founding Father of Electronics for Physics

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