Ústav technické a experimentální fyziky Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics

X-ray polarimetry by means of Compton scattering in the sensor of a hybrid photon counting pixel detector

NázevTitle
X-ray polarimetry by means of Compton scattering in the sensor of a hybrid photon counting pixel detectorX-ray polarimetry by means of Compton scattering in the sensor of a hybrid photon counting pixel detector
Druh výsledkuResult type
Článek v časopiseJournal article
AutořiAuthors
T. Michel, J. Durst, J. Jakůbek
DOIDOI
10.1016/j.nima.2009.02.032
Časopis / citaceJournal / citation
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 2009, 603(3), 384-392. ISSN 0168-9002.
RokYear
2009
JazykLanguage
eng
WoSWoS
000266829400025
ScopusScopus
2-s2.0-65449184873
RIVRIV
RIV/68407700:21670/09:00165610!RIV10-MSM-21670___
ProjektProject
Využití radionuklidů a ionizujícího zářeníApplication of radionuclides and ionising radiation; Příprava, modifikace a charakterizace materiálů energetickým zářenímPreparation, Modification and Characterization of Materials by Energetic Radiation

AbstraktAbstract

For the first time a hybrid semiconductor photon counting pixel detector has been used for measurements of linear X-ray polarization by exploiting the Compton effect in the silicon sensor layer. The time-to-shutter mode of the X-ray imaging detector Timepix was used to identify Compton-scattering events in the sensor layer by the analysis of coincidences. For irradiation with polarized X-ray photons of energies between 27 and 84 keV we were able to measure a large modulation factor of mu(meas) = (68.1 +/- 16.4)% for this type of X-ray polarimeter. Degree and orientation of linear polarization can be determined. This publication describes the experimental setup, data analysis method, measurement and simulation results, and gives first estimations on the polarimetric performance for an application in X-ray astronomy.

For the first time a hybrid semiconductor photon counting pixel detector has been used for measurements of linear X-ray polarization by exploiting the Compton effect in the silicon sensor layer. The time-to-shutter mode of the X-ray imaging detector Timepix was used to identify Compton-scattering events in the sensor layer by the analysis of coincidences. For irradiation with polarized X-ray photons of energies between 27 and 84 keV we were able to measure a large modulation factor of mu(meas) = (68.1 +/- 16.4)% for this type of X-ray polarimeter. Degree and orientation of linear polarization can be determined. This publication describes the experimental setup, data analysis method, measurement and simulation results, and gives first estimations on the polarimetric performance for an application in X-ray astronomy.