Development of LAMBDA: Large Area Medipix-Based Detector Array

The Medipix3 photon counting readout chip has a range of features-small pixel size, high readout rate and inter-pixel communication - which make it attractive for X-ray scattering and imaging at synchrotrons. DESY have produced a prototype large-area detector module that can carry a 6 by 2 array of Medipix3 chips (1536 by 512 pixels), which can be used with a single large silicon sensor (85mm by 28mm) or two hexa high-Z sensors. The detector head is designed to be tilable and compatible with low temperatures, and will allow high speed parallel readout of the Medipix3 chips. It consists of a ceramic board, on which the sensor assembly is mounted, and a secondary board for signal routing and voltage regulators. A prototype DAQ board using USB2 readout has also been produced. A quad Medipix3 sensor assembly has been mounted on the detector head, and successfully configured and read out by the DAQ board. Development has begun on a high-speed readout board, and large-area silicon assemblies are in production.