The application of multiwire X-ray detectors to experiments using synchrotron radiation

Multiwire detectors have certain characteristics that can be used to advantage, particularly in small-angle diffraction or scattering experiments on biological systems. The size of the active region of the detector and the total number of pixels can be conveniently matched to the dimensions of the synchrotron beam and to the optics of the beam line camera. Furthermore, the large dynamic range inherent in single-photon counting systems can be exploited to ensure the collection of high-quality data even when the scattering factor varies over several orders of magnitude. Linear and two-dimensional detectors are in regular use at the Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source, all using the delay-line readout method and a standardised data acquisition system which includes facilities for time-resolved measurements. The development of a new system (now at the prototype stage) to operate at the very high count rates available from synchrotron sources is outlined in this paper. (orig.)