The Advantage of a Detector with a CdTe Sensor for Hard Radiation
Photon-counting detectors with silicon (Si) sensors are commonly used in modern laboratory X-ray diffractometers. However, Si sensors exhibit relatively low quantum efficiency for high-energy X-rays, such as those produced by molybdenum (Mo) and silver (Ag) radiation. This limitation can be significantly mitigated by using detectors equipped with cadmium telluride (CdTe) sensors, which offer much higher efficiency in this energy range.
Introduction
X-ray sources with Mo and Ag anodes are classified as 'hard radiation' because of their short wavelength, i.e. high energy. These sources are mainly used for two purposes: (a) their higher X-ray penetration depth allows for the study of thicker samples in transmission mode and (b) they provide a higher q-range, which is useful for applications such as Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis.
In addition to optics optimized for hard radiation, detectors optimized for hard radiation are also required. Standard silicon (Si) sensors have low quantum efficiency for hard radiation; therefore, detectors with cadmium telluride (CdTe) sensors are recommended, especially for high-energy X-rays such as those generated by Mo and Ag anodes in laboratory diffractometers.
XRDynamic 500, an automated multipurpose powder X-ray diffractometer from Anton Paar, offers the flexibility to use detectors with either Si or CdTe sensors. Additionally, it allows for easy exchange of the X-ray tube and detector, along with fully automated instrument alignment routines.
This report highlights the advantage of using a detector with a CdTe sensor for hard radiation.
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