2016/08/26 by J.A. Mir, Mir, J. A., R. Clough +23
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Materials Science · #Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications #Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det) #Photocathodes and Microchannel Plates
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1608.07586
openalex publication_date 2016/08/26 · openalex created_date 2024/04/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In our article we report first quantitative measurements of imaging performance for the current generation of hybrid pixel detector, Medipix3, as direct electron detector. Utilising beam energies of 60 & 80 keV, measurements of modulation transfer function (MTF) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) have revealed that, in single pixel mode (SPM), energy threshold values can be chosen to maximize either the MTF or DQE, obtaining values near to, or even exceeding, those for an ideal detector. We have demonstrated that the Medipix3 charge summing mode (CSM) can deliver simultaneous, near ideal values of both MTF and DQE. To understand direct detection performance further we have characterized the detector response to single electron events, building an empirical model which can predict detector MTF and DQE performance based on energy threshold. Exemplifying our findings we demonstrate the Medipix3 imaging performance, recording a fully exposed electron diffraction pattern at 24-bit depth and images in SPM and CSM modes. Taken together our findings highlight that for transmission electron microscopy performed at low energies (energies <100 keV) thick hybrid pixel detectors provide an advantageous and alternative architecture for direct electron imaging