Comparison of X-ray detectors for a diffraction enhanced imaging system

Three digital detector systems—a Fuji BAS2500 Image Plate Reader, a prototype charge-coupled device (CCD) from Mar USA and the MicroPhotonics XQUIS 1000 were compared with respect to format, dynamic range, dark noise, and spatial resolution. Experiments were conducted using highly collimated monochromatic X-rays at 20 keV, produced at the National Synchrotron Light Source. This study characterized digital detectors being considered for integration into a synchrotron-based diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) apparatus used for medical imaging research, particularly mammography. These detectors are also being considered for integration into a proposed clinical prototype for DEI-based mammography. While all three systems had comparable image quality, the CCDs had faster readout time than the image plate system. However, the Fuji system had the largest dynamic range (∼105 compared to 104 for CCDs) and the largest active area. The MicroPhotonics XQUIS 1000 had the best spatial resolution as characterized by the point spread function.