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An Ultra-Fast X-ray Imager for HED and X-ray Science

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-SC0022742
Agency Tracking Number: 0000267014
Amount: $200,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: C54-26a
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2022
Award Year: 2022
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2022-06-27
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2023-03-26
Small Business Information
78 Schuyler Baldwin Drive
Fairport, NY 14550
United States
DUNS: 167029235
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Benjamin Martin
 (585) 278-1168
 ben.martin@sydortechnologies.com
Business Contact
 Mark Katafiaz
Phone: (585) 278-1168
Email: mark.katafiaz@sydortechnologies.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The detection of optical light has made steady advances over decades to the point where observing sub
nanosecond events has become routine, but the x-ray regime has not kept pace. As a consequence, radiation
hard x-ray imaging detectors with frame rates > 10 Hz are lacking. This technology gap is not only
detrimental to scientific progress in traditional x-ray science fields like free electron lasers (FELs), but also
in studying high energy density (HED) events like fusion. As the US moves toward cleaner sources of
energy, fusion might hold the key to breaking the hold of fossil fuels in the energy market.
The next generation of detector technology will enable practical applications of fusion technology through
fundamental understanding of the physics behind it. The small business, with consultation from another
specialized company, will advance a program to grow ultra-fast imaging detector technology for HED
physics and synchrotron markets. The consulting team is composed of experts formerly working in a
national laboratory sensor development group. The sensor group developed a ROIC (read out integrated
circuit) that can capture 2-D data with a minimum gate time of 1-2 ns and only tens of picoseconds of jitter.
These systems have a range of features that are attractive for fast, high energy imaging including up to 1.5
x 106 electron full well capacity, eight stored frames, 25 µm pixels, and tiling to produce larger arrays. The
small business will leverage existing prototype sensors and electronics developed at national laboratories
to define requirements for a robust commercial prototype suitable for a variety of markets and scientific
applications.
The main objectives of the Phase I program will be to study the designs of the national lab developed ROIC
and generate a product roadmap for a robust commercial camera system. To complete these objectives the
small business will initiate transfer of system knowledge required for camera development with the
specialized company as they transfer of the ROIC fabrication process to a commercial producer. Existing
laboratory electronics systems will also be evaluated for features to implement in a commercial device, and
preliminary design documentation will be generated based on these results.
Designing a commercial device based on the imaging ROIC above will result in camera configurations that
serve a broad set of scientists FEL, fusion, and HED physics communities. The potential for immediate
impact of a commercial product is at national laboratory facilities currently using proof of concept camera
systems. A commercial offering will allow time and resources to better focus on science instead of
debugging or repairing less robust systems.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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