Gas pixel detectors for high-sensitivity x-ray polarimetry

R. Bellazzini; L. Baldini; A. Brez; F. Cavalca; L. Latronico; N. Omodei; M. M. Massai; M. Minuti; M. Razzano; C. Sgró; G. Spandre; E. Costa; P. Soffitta

doi:10.1117/12.671105

15 June 2006 Gas pixel detectors for high-sensitivity x-ray polarimetry

R. Bellazzini, L. Baldini, A. Brez, F. Cavalca, L. Latronico, N. Omodei, M. M. Massai, M. Minuti, M. Razzano, C. Sgró, G. Spandre, E. Costa, P. Soffitta

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6266, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation II: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 62662T (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671105
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

We discuss a new class of Micro Pattern Gas Detectors, the Gas Pixel Detector (GPD), in which a complete integration between the gas amplification structure and the read-out electronics has been reached. An Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) built in deep sub-micron technology has been developed to realize a monolithic device that is, at the same time, the pixelized charge collecting electrode and the amplifying, shaping and charge measuring front-end electronics. The CMOS chip has the top metal layer patterned in a matrix of 80 μm pitch hexagonal pixels, each of them directly connected to the underneath electronics chain which has been realized in the remaining five layers of the 0.35 μm VLSI technology. Results from tests of a first prototype of such detector with 2k pixels and a full scale version with 22k pixels are presented. The application of this device for Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry is discussed. The experimental detector response to polarized and unpolarized X-ray radiation is shown. Results from a full MonteCarlo simulation for two astronomical sources, the Crab Nebula and the Hercules X1, are also reported.

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R. Bellazzini, L. Baldini, A. Brez, F. Cavalca, L. Latronico, N. Omodei, M. M. Massai, M. Minuti, M. Razzano, C. Sgró, G. Spandre, E. Costa, and P. Soffitta "Gas pixel detectors for high-sensitivity x-ray polarimetry", Proc. SPIE 6266, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation II: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 62662T (15 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671105

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