AEON Event-Driven and Frame-Based X-ray Detector

The high-resolution event-based X-ray detector AEON is a noise-free X-ray detector, built around the Timepix4 readout chip developed at CERN. It is specifically designed for experiments requiring high spatial resolution, high sensitivity, and exceptionally high speed. The AEON detector operates in two distinct data acquisition modes: event-driven and frame-based. In our white paper we introduce our AEON detector system and present first results recorded at synchrotron radiation facilities. 

Abstract:
Hybrid pixel detectors operating in single-photon-counting mode have revolutionised X-ray science at synchrotrons and laboratory sources. The next generation of pixel readout chips, exemplified by the Timepix4 ASIC developed by the Medipix4 collaboration, overcomes the limitations of purely frame-based acquisition by making continuous, data-driven event streaming with sub-ns time stamping broadly accessible for synchrotron experiments. Here, we present the AEON detector system developed by X-Spectrum GmbH. AEON incorporates Timepix4 ASICs into a versatile multi-chip architecture with customisable sensor materials. The system operates either in frame-based mode or in event-driven mode, in which the Time-of-Arrival (ToA) and Time-over-Threshold (ToT) per pixel are recorded for each hit. We demonstrate benchmark results including resolved bunch filling patterns and highly efficient gate-free laser pump – X-ray probe experiments.