Focus on sensors and detectors

The Ortec Products Group of Ametek has added the GEM-MX Profile series of P-type coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. Most gamma spectroscopy applications, such as those found in counting laboratories, involve an energy range of approximately 40 keV or higher. Ortec GEM and Profile series GEM detectors have been designed for an energy range from 10 keV to more than 3000 keV. They are supplied with a standard high-transmission carbon-fiber window in an aluminum endcap. According to the company, the combination of a thin front radiation entrance window and a coaxial crystal of large dimensions gives its HPGe detectors greater versatility than others currently available; a single Ortec detector can count both Marinelli samples and filter samples on the endcap. Ortec Products Group, 801 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0895, http://www.ortec-online.com

The Mag613 from Bartington Instruments is an array of eight miniature three-axis fluxgate sensors. The sensors are connected to an electronics module containing a power supply, the driving circuitry, and an analog multiplexer. The complete assembly is submersible to a depth of 500 m. The sensors have a range of ±300 μT, a bandwidth of 6 Hz, and a noise level < 0.5 nT_rms/√Hz at 1 Hz. Each sensor is individually encapsulated in a miniature enclosure and connected to the electronics unit by a 3-m cable. Monitoring signals are routed to eight of the analog multiplexer inputs, allowing remote monitoring for fault diagnosis. The 24 fluxgate signals and the 8 monitoring signals are multiplexed into a single analog output signal through five digital lines. Bartington Instruments Limited, 5, 10, and 11 Thorney Leys Business Park, Witney, Oxon OX28 4GE, UK, http://www.bartington.com

Identifying and quantifying natural and manmade colored dissolved organic matter components is crucial in the measurement of water quality. Both the fluorescence and the absorbance spectra of the sample must be collected. The Aqualog, an instrument Horiba Scientific has introduced to address that need, simultaneously measures absorbance spectra and fluorescence excitation–emission matrices. It includes a 150-W xenon lamp, a double excitation monochromator for superior stray light rejection, a photodiode for absorbance spectra, and a thermoelectrically cooled CCD to collect rapid emission spectra. A full suite of validation tests traceable to NIST and software described by the company as easy to use make the Aqualog a suitable tool for water research. Horiba Scientific, 3880 Park Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820-3097, http://www.horiba.com/scientific

Photonis USA has added a 40-mm size to its Gen2 UltraFast time-of-flight detector line. It allows a TOF mass spectrometer to increase its mass resolution simply by replacing the detector. The product line is designed to address two major areas that affect resolution in TOF mass spectrometry: microchannel plate (MCP) flatness and anode spacing. The Gen2 detectors are equipped with the company’s patented MountingPad MCPs to reduce anode spacing. They use TruFlite MCP flatness technology to reduce time jitter. The TOF detector line provides typical pulse widths of less than 200 ps and near-symmetric 120-ps rise and fall times. Designed for front flange mount, the TOF detector offers built-in beam parallelism to provide uniform ion conversion. Photonis USA, 660 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01566, http://www.photonis.com

A new high-frequency amplifier from Trek, model 2100HF, delivers high-frequency, high-speed, wide-bandwidth performance for use in MEMS and in dielectric material characterization, piezoelectric driving and control, and ultrasonic detectors. According to the company, the new amplifier will enable technological advancement in a diverse group of industries such as aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, and telecommunications. Model 2100HF provides precise control of output voltages from 0 to ±150 V DC or peak AC, with output currents of 0 to ±300 mA, large signal bandwidth capabilities to 2.6 MHz (−3 dB), and typical slew rates of 2000 V/µs. Small signal bandwidth is greater than 3 MHz (−3 dB), and the full power frequency response of the amplifier is essentially flat up to 2 MHz. Trek Inc, 11601 Maple Ridge Road, Medina, NY 14103, http://www.trekinc.com

The new true surface microscopy mode from WITec allows confocal Raman imaging guided by surface topography. True surface microscopy follows the surface topography with high precision, so that even very rough or heavily inclined samples always stay in focus while performing confocal Raman imaging. To achieve that capability, the WITec alpha500 series integrates a highly precise sensor for optical profilometry. The topographic coordinates from the profilometer measurement are used to follow the sample surface in confocal Raman imaging mode. The result is an image revealing optical or chemical properties at the surface of the sample. According to the company, the new imaging mode enables easy and automatic characterization of samples just as they are. WITec Instruments Corp, 122 McCammon Avenue, Maryville, TN 37804, http://www.witec-instruments.com

Auréa Technology has launched the newly designed SPD_A_M2, an all-in-one dual single-photon-counting module. The SPD_A is a family of ultra-low-noise, high-quantum-efficiency (QE), near-IR (900–1700 nm) single-photon detectors. The detectors’ Geiger-mode indium gallium arsenide avalanche photodiode and thermoelectric coolers ensure a low and stable dark count, with a performance superior to 5.0 × 10⁻⁶/ns. The SPD_A family has higher sensitivity than photomultipliers. While most PMTs count a QE below 1% in the near-IR, the QE of the SPD_A detectors is adjustable up to 25%. The SPD_A series also provides plug-and-play connections to PCs via a USB interface, thus allowing users to easily adjust detection efficiency and tune gate width and delay. The module comes with its own graphical user interface, but users can develop their own with LabView or C++. Auréa Technology, Incubateur d’Entreprises Innovantes de Franche-Comté, 18 rue Alain Savary, 25000 Besançon, France, http://en.aureatechnology.net

Coherent has expanded its meterless laser measurement concept with a new range of energy sensors in which all meter electronics are miniaturized and integrated within the sensor head cable. The company’s entire range of high-performance EnergyMax sensors is now available in this form factor with either RS-232 or USB 2.0 connectivity. The product line enables measurement of the energy per pulse or average power of pulsed lasers from the nanojoule to the multijoule level over wavelengths from the deep UV through the far-IR and from single pulses to repetition rates of 10 kHz. Multiple EnergyMax sensors can share an internal or external trigger for synchronized operation, for example, to enable pulse ratiometry. Coherent’s EnergyMax PC applications software provides a virtual instrument interface for the sensors that allows users to take laser energy readings, log data, and compute measurement statistics. Coherent Inc, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054, http://www.coherent.com

Hamamatsu Corp has introduced the S11500-1007 back-thinned CCD for Raman spectroscopy. Featuring 40% quantum efficiency at 1000 nm, the CCD has a wide spectral response range from 200 to 1100 nm. Its enhanced sensitivity in the near-IR region, particularly beneficial for detecting long-wavelength Raman emissions, is made possible by applying Hamamatsu’s laser-processing technology to form a MEMS structure on the back side of the CCD. The S11500-1007 has 1024 (H) × 122 (V) pixels; the pixel size is 24 × 24 µm. With binning, the CCD can be operated as a linear image sensor. The binning operation ensures higher signal-to-noise ratio and faster signal processing speed compared to methods that use an external circuit to add signals digitally. The S11500-1007 comes in a 24-pin ceramic dual in-line package with a quartz glass window. It can be used in conjunction with Hamamatsu’s C7040 multichannel detector head, sold separately. Hamamatsu Corporation, 360 Foothill Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, http://www.hamamatsu.com

Because there are many applications in which condensing humidity conditions exist or liquid media are to be measured, Honeywell has added a single-side liquid media option to its line of TruStability pressure sensors. It allows one port of the sensor to be used with condensing humidity or noncorrosive liquid media such as deionized water, thus eliminating the complexity and expense of protecting the sensor from such media. The TruStability line comprises the high-accuracy silicon ceramic (HSC) and the standard-accuracy silicon ceramic (SSC) series. The HSC series provides a ±1% total error band specification, compensated across a 0–50 °C (32–122 °F) temperature range. The SSC series provides a ±2% total error band specification, compensated across a wider −20–85 °C (−4–185 °F) temperature range. Honeywell International, 101 Columbia Road, Mailstop M6/LM, Morristown, NJ 07962, http://honeywell.com

Kaman Precision Products—Measuring now offers the KD-5100 differential impedance position or displacement measuring system. The company claims that the system provides high resolution, repeatability, and reliability for detecting the position of a conductive target relative to a pair of noncontacting sensors. For differential measurements, two precisely matched noncontacting sensors per channel give 1-nm resolution. As the target moves away from one sensor, it moves toward the other by an equal amount. Output is differential and bipolar. The KD-5100 system offers a small package size of 2 × 2.12 × 0.75 inches and a choice of two sensors: the 15N and the 20N. Both sensors and the KD-5100 electronics are usable in vacuum applications down to 10⁻⁶ torr. The sensors are based on inductive eddy current technology. Kaman Precision Products—Measuring, 3730 Sinton Road, Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, http://www.kamansensors.com

The 3DM-GX3-35 miniature attitude heading reference system from MicroStrain combines MEMS sensor technology and a highly sensitive embedded GPS receiver. It incorporates a triaxial accelerometer, a triaxial gyro, a triaxial magnetometer, temperature sensors, and a dedicated 32-bit processor running a fusion algorithm to provide orientation, inertial, and GPS measurements. Data from the GPS receiver are time synchronized with the inertial sensors, and all inertial and GPS data are available as custom user packets by means of polling or continuous stream. The 3DM-GX3-35 inertial sensor system offers a range of output data quantities, including fully calibrated inertial measurements—acceleration, angular rate, and magnetic field. It can also output computed orientation estimates: Euler angles, orientation matrix, and quaternion. The 3DM-GX3-35 has a dual communication interface that supports USB and RS-232. MicroStrain Inc, 459 Hurricane Lane, Suite 102, Williston, VT 05495, http://www.microstrain.com

The IRD AXUV 100GX absolute x-ray photodiode from Opto Diode is a semiconductor radiation sensor for detecting photons and other particles. The device has a 10 × 10 mm active area, a small footprint, room-temperature operation, and a nitrided oxide front window for up to 1 grad of radiation hardness, which is 10 000 times greater than standard PIN silicon photodiodes. The sensor does not need external voltage for operation. It has known-active silicon thicknesses and 100% internal quantum efficiency to enable the absolute measurement of x-ray flux with energies of 100 keV and above. X-ray responsivity measurements performed at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt in Germany confirm that the responsivity of AXUV 100GX devices can be calculated from their known silicon thickness. The IRD AXUV 100GX photodiodes with directly deposited, thin metallic filters reduce response to visible light by several orders of magnitude. Applications include solar spectrum studies. Opto Diode Corporation, 750 Mitchell Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320, http://www.optodiode.com

ID Quantique has introduced the id210, an ultrafast InGaAs counter for single-photon detection at 1310- and 1550-nm wavelengths. It features operation with fast rise and fall times, large amplitude gates at frequencies up to 100 MHz, detection probability (quantum efficiency) up to 25%, and timing resolution of less than 200 ps. It also provides operation with slower rise and fall times for free-running operation and long gates with outstanding detection probability uniformity. Integration of essential functions in a miniature system ensures a quenching time lower than 2 ns and reduction of afterpulsing effects, and compensation of derivative pulses allows operation at low excess bias voltages of typically less than 0.5 V. The company designed the lock subcircuit to efficiently apply a dead time shorter than 10 ns. For applications requiring an asynchronous detection scheme, the id210 can operate in free-running mode with detection probability up to 10%. ID Quantique SA, Chemin de la Marbrerie 3, 1227 Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.idquantique.com

The SP400 from Sensonor Technologies is a fully calibrated and compensated wireless digital absolute pressure sensor available in four pressure ranges from 150 kPa (22 psi) to 2000 kPa (290 psi). The sensor is based on Sensonor’s patented bulk micromachined triple-stack stable platinum resistance thermometer design. Features include three user-configurable input–output pins, a built-in RF transmitter with adjustable transmission power that supports communication over the 315- and 433-MHz ranges, and a built-in low frequency receiver unit that enables two-way communication. This two-way device can also output pressure data, the sensor’s individual serial number, sensor temperature, supply voltage, and continuous self-diagnostic data. Sensor firmware can be customized to control measurement cycles and processing of the measured data. Sensonor Technologies AS, Knudsrødveien 7, P. O. Box 196, 3192 Horten, Norway, http://www.sensonor.com

Tecan and Sword Diagnostics have made available a high-performance immunoassay detection technology that uses a unique substrate to generate a light-scattering, energy exchanged (Raman) signal. Sword’s substrate is a molecule with a very low Raman signal. However, after oxidation by horseradish peroxidase and development with the Sword reagents, the substrate has a strong and quantitative Raman signal that can be measured using the fluorescence channel of the Infinite M1000 and 200 PRO series readers of the Tecan plate. The Sword technology extends sensitivity over current detection technologies and provides precision and accuracy at low concentrations. Further benefits allow assay developers to improve overall assay performance, use smaller sample volumes, and reduce overall time to results. Sword Diagnostics, 3440 South Dearborn Street, Suite 260, Chicago, IL 60616, http://www.sworddiagnostics.com