High Performance HPC Detectors for Single Crystal XRD

Hybrid Photon Counting detectors (HPC), also known as Hybrid Pixel Array Detectors (HPAD) are next generation semiconductor detectors. They have the distinct advantage over other 2D detectors in that they are event driven i.e. count individual photons directly. Other 2D detectors (CCD and CMOS) measure photons indirectly using a scintillator that converts X-ray photons into visible light. 

 Advantages of 2D HPC detectors include: 

  • Better able to deal with a wide range of samples compared to 1D detectors
  • More information and shorter measurement time 
  • Very high signal to background ratio 
  • High quantum efficiency and spatial resolution 
  • Fast readout (Zero dead time mode) 

HPC Detectors 

All Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy X-ray diffractometers now come standard with HPC detectors, like the HyPix-6000HE of HyPix-Bantam. These offer excellent performance with the advantages described above and mark a big upgrade from scintillation detectors. 

HyPix-Bantam hybrid photon counting (HPC) detector
Rigaku HyPix-Bantam hybrid photon counting (HPC) detector.
Rigaku HyPix 6000HE HPC detector ideal for high flux XRD studies
Rigaku HyPix-6000HE HPC detector.

Curved HPC Detectors 

In additional to Rigaku’s HyPix range of HPC detectors, they also offer HPC detectors in large angle curved configurations. Detectors like the HyPix-Arc 100° and HyPix-Arc 150° which offer large capture angles, especially compared to flat detectors. These detectors deliver enhanced speed for rapid acquisition of complete and redundant data. 

Rigaku HyPix-Arc 100° curved detector
Rigaku HyPix-Arc 100° curved HPC detector
Rigaku HyPix-Arc 150° curved HPC detctor
Rigaku HyPix-Arc 150° curved HPC detctor

The curved configuration minimises peak distortion by ensuring that the diffracted beam impinges on the detector at an almost perpendicular geometry. This remains true for short crystal-to-detector distances. This improves data quality, enabling the collecting of more data in a single exposure with less reflection profile distortion and reduced dose time. Furthermore, The angular coverage is more than enough to collect complete single crystal diffraction data according to International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) guidelines from a single theta position, even for Cu Kα X-ray wavelength. 

Curved detectors are ideal for measuring diffraction from small and poorly diffracting samples due to their extremely low noise characteristics. Counting can continue as long as needed without the dark current or noise build which can occur in other detectors. 

Another advantage of the HyPix-Arc detectors are the sharp reflections they record due to their direct detection characteristics. This in turn makes them easier to resolve. 

HyPix-Arc detectors are compatible with all Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy X-ray diffractometers and seamlessly integrate with CrysAlisPro.