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Pablo Villanueva Perez

Senior lecturer

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A new imaging technology based on Compton X-ray scattering

Author

  • Ángela Saá Hernández
  • Diego González-Díaz
  • Pablo Villanueva
  • Carlos Azevedo
  • Marcos Seoane

Summary, in English

A feasible implementation of a novel X-ray detector for highly energetic X-ray photons with a large solid angle coverage, optimal for the detection of Compton X-ray scattered photons, is described. The device consists of a 20 cm-thick sensitive volume filled with xenon at atmospheric pressure. When the Compton-scattered photons interact with the xenon, the released photoelectrons create clouds of secondary ionization, which are imaged using the electroluminescence produced in a custom-made multi-hole acrylic structure. Photon-by-photon counting can be achieved by processing the resulting image, taken in a continuous readout mode. Based on Geant4 simulations, by considering a realistic detector design and response, it is shown that photon rates up to at least 1011photons s-1on-sample (5 μm water-equivalent cell) can be processed, limited by the spatial diffusion of the photoelectrons in the gas. Illustratively, if making use of the Rose criterion and assuming the dose partitioning theorem, it is shown how such a detector would allow obtaining 3D images of 5 μm-size unstained cells in their native environment in about 24 h, with a resolution of 36 nm.

Department/s

  • NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
  • Synchrotron Radiation Research

Publishing year

2021-09-01

Language

English

Pages

1558-1572

Publication/Series

Journal of Synchrotron Radiation

Volume

28

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

International Union of Crystallography

Topic

  • Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Keywords

  • cell imaging
  • Compton scattering
  • electroluminescence
  • hard X-rays
  • time projection chamber

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0909-0495