Hardware

The QUANTAX system hardware comprises a state-of-the-art Windows system computer, X-ray detector, signal processing electronics and an I/O adaptor with integrated scan system.

Detectors

The XFlash® Detector family

QUANTAX can be equipped with different models of the new, liquid nitrogen free XFlash® 5000 silicon drift detector (SDD) series. You can choose the

  • XFlash® 5010 for applications that require optimum energy resolution and light element performance,
  • XFlash® 5030 if you use a cold field emission SEM, an environmental SEM or a TEM,
  • XFlash® QUAD 5040, should you need excellent energy resolution at extreme count rates. i.e. if you use a microprobe.

Note that all detectors are specified at a count rate of 100,000 cps, energy resolutions down to 123 eV at Mn Kα are available. The members of this innovative detector family are also equipped with an optimized electron trap that permits interference-free analysis at even the lowest acceleration voltages in the electron microscope.

Signal Electronics

Signal Processing Unit SVE III

The current hybrid pulse processor SVE III combines analog and digital pulse processing techniques for optimal exploitation of the capabilities of our XFlash® SDDs. A single signal processing unit can support up to four detectors simultaneously.

Spectra are collected by a digital signal processor and stored in the internal 4096*32bit MCA. The electronics unit provides versatile interfaces for full remote control as well as high speed data transfer.

I/O Adaptor with Scan System

The IO-Scan adaptor PCI board provides the interface between the signal electronics and the system computer. It allows the connection of up to four X-ray detectors simultaneously through the proprietary MegaLink interface.

IO-Scan adaptor PCI board with scan system

A full featured scan generator for external beam control with wide range analog XY-outputs and software selectable scan resolution up to 4096 x 4096 pixels is included as well. It accepts two independent analog image signals (i.e., SE and BSE) and provides eight programmable pulse counters.