X-ray powder diffraction with hybrid semiconductor pixel detectors

Semiconductor hybrid pixel detectors, originally developed for particle physics experiments, have been used for an X-ray diffraction experiment on a synchrotron radiation source. The spatial resolution of the intensity peaks in the diffraction patterns of silicon and potassium niobate powder samples was found to be better than that of a scintillator-based system, typically used at present. The two-dimensional position information of the pixel detector enabled multi-peak diffraction patterns to be acquired and clearly resolved without the need for an angle scan with a diffractometer. This trial experiment shows the potential of this technology for high-resolution high-rate diffraction systems.