Single-shot, omni-directional x-ray scattering imaging with a laboratory source and single-photon localization.

Omni-directional, ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering imaging provides a method to measure the orientation of micro-structures without having to resolve them. In this letter, we use single-photon localization with the Timepix3 chip to demonstrate, to the best of our knowledge, the first laboratory-based implementation of single-shot, omni-directional x-ray scattering imaging using the beam-tracking technique. The setup allows a fast and accurate retrieval of the scattering signal using a simple absorption mask.

Subpixel resolution in CdTe Timepix3 pixel detectors.

Timepix3 (256 × 256 pixels with a pitch of 55 µm) is a hybrid-pixel-detector readout chip that implements a data-driven architecture and is capable of simultaneous time-of-arrival (ToA) and energy (ToT: time-over-threshold) measurements. The ToA information allows the unambiguous identification of pixel clusters belonging to the same X-ray interaction, which allows for full one-by-one detection of photons. The weighted mean of the pixel clusters can be used to measure the subpixel position of an X-ray interaction.