Sirius Si(Li) Detectors
Sirius is the generic name for e2v scientific instruments' Si(Li) detectors representing the state of the art in high performance solid state energy dispersive X-ray detection. With a wide range of crystals and performance specifications available, e2v scientific instruments is uniquely placed to service the exacting requirements of OEM manufacturers, analytical instrument users and researchers alike.
e2v scientific instruments processes all of its own Silicon using a specially developed Lithium compensation technique. Coupled with our own highly refined contact technology, e2v scientific instruments produces finished Si(Li) crystals which are the best in the industry.
e2v scientific instruments Sirius Si(Li) detectors are available to suit all applications and are also available in special multi-element designs.
Typical Fe-55 Spectrum (logarithmic scale) from a e2v scientific instruments 10mm² Si(Li) Detector (Measured spectral parameters: Resolution 128eV, Peak to Background 22k:1)
| Typical specifications for Sirius Si(Li) detectors | ||||
| Active area (mm²) | 10 | 30 | 50 | 80 |
| Resolution [MnKa] (eV) | 130 | 136 | 139 | 148 |
| Peak:Background | 20000:1 | 20000:1 | 15000:1 | 10000:1 |
| Tail factor (%) | <0.10 | <0.10 | <0.12 | <0.15 |
For a detailed description of detector specification parameters click here.
Low energy response
e2v scientific instruments' Sirius detectors offer excellent light element X-ray response. This is an important feature in many analytical applications. Very low energy X-rays do not penetrate very far in Silicon and so most of the events occur very close to the front contact of the crystal, where fractions of the charge are easily lost. This can result in peak broadening, tailing and even energy shifts. e2v scientific instruments' special front contact technology is crucial to minimising these effects, resulting in excellent spectral performance right down to Beryllium K X-rays.
Ultimately the efficiency of an X-ray detector at the low energy end of the spectrum depends on the choice of entrance window. e2v scientific instruments offers a comprehensive range of detector windows to suit all applications.
Light Element Spectrum from SEM
High energy response
Applications like X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) often require good spectral response over a wide range of energies. e2v scientific instruments Si(Li) crystals are available with different active thicknesses depending on the application. Deeper crystals are more efficient at higher X-ray energies. e2v scientific instruments Si(Li) crystals maintain their excellent peak to background and low tail performance even at high energies (See Pd spectrum below).
Typical e2v scientific instruments XRF Detector Spectrum (50mm² Si(Li))
Multi-element Si(Li) detectors. e2v scientific instruments has produced several special purpose detectors with up to 13 separate elements in a single cryostat [more details].
