DOE has expressed an interest in developing new detector systems and approaches for use in areas such as x-ray diffraction studies. For example, crystallographic studies of chemical structures of biological macromolecules at synchrotrons and experiments using other x-ray sources may be severely constrained by the limitations of existing detectors. Detector concerns include high count rate capabilities and improved position sensitivity, energy resolution, and detector size. This project will address the problem by introducing a new design for improving the performance characteristics of Microstrip Gas Chambers (MSGCs). At present, the greatest obstacle to their widespread use as x-ray detectors is the problem of substrate charging. The approach in Phase I to solving this problem should result in an x-ray detector with large areas (4 in. diameter), superior two dimensional position sensitivity (100 um), energy resolution comparable to proportional counters (800 eV at 5.9keV), and stable long-term use. A readout scheme for the MSGC is also planned which should afford count rate capabilities superior to typical multi-wire proportional counters (100 MHz). With the successful implementation of this design approach, the MSGC promises to be a detector capable of handling the requirements of the next generation of experiments at the new synchrotron (and other accelerator) facilities. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: This detector will offer the biology community at synchrotrons and other x-ray sources a new detector which should meet the major performance specifications desired for the next generation of biology experiments. Its versatility as a charged particle detector will also result in its use for accelerator and reactor experiments. It also holds great promise as a detector for various nuclear medicine applications.
