White Paper: Advancing Scattering Experiments with Hybrid Photon Counting Detectors

A 2-minute read

High-quality scattering data are essential for understanding the structural properties of materials from nanometers to atomic resolution. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) are indispensable tools for such studies, and recent advances in detector technology are redefining what’s possible with both laboratory and synchrotron X-ray sources.

This new DECTRIS white paper highlights how Hybrid Photon Counting (HPC) detectors, such as EIGER2 and PILATUS4, enable high-resolution, noise-free data collection across diverse experimental setups. By eliminating detector background, enhancing dynamic range, and supporting fast frame rates, these detectors deliver unprecedented clarity and efficiency in scattering experiments.

Through two case studies, the paper illustrates the impact of HPC detectors:

• Time-resolved SAXS at synchrotron facilities – Using a prototype PILATUS4 detector at beamline P12, DESY, researchers captured the dynamic dissociation of biological macromolecules with millisecond precision, showing how molecular kinetics can now be investigated with SAXS.
• Laboratory-based polymer analysis – The EIGER2 R 4M detector, combined with a MetalJet source from Excillum, enables detailed characterization of bio-derived polymers and nanoparticles at the BioPACIFIC platform, showcasing how laboratory SAXS systems can now achieve data quality once reserved for synchrotrons.

Read the full white paper to explore how Hybrid Photon Counting technology is shaping the future of scattering experiments:

Read here

Citation: 
Trampari, S., & DECTRIS (Switzerland). (2025). Advancing Scattering Experiments with Hybrid Photon Counting Detectors. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17512088