Rigaku Introduces Two Advanced CCD X-ray Detectors for Crystallography Applications
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
Rigaku Americas Corporation has announced the introduction of two new high performance CCD based area X-ray detectors at the 24th European Crystallographic Meeting (ECM24) in Marrakech, Morocco (August 22-27, 2007).
Optimized for macromolecular and small molecule X-ray crystallography respectively, the Saturn 944+ and Saturn 724+ were internally designed, developed and manufactured by Rigaku as part of an on-going commitment to providing the most advanced tools for structural biology and chemistry research and development.
With a 4-fold increase in readout speed (to 8 MHz total) and improved signal-to-noise and dynamic range, the Saturn+ line of third generation Rigaku CCD X-ray detectors is optimized for high performance X-ray crystallography applications where maximum productivity is essential.
This new generation of CCD detectors delivers extremely high readout speeds without any significant increase in read noise compared to the previous generation of CCD based X-ray detectors. Both detectors employ the advanced Kodak® KAF-4320E CCD sensor, incorporating transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) technology for superior sensitivity.
A large format front illuminated sensor, optimized for high dynamic range and superior spatial resolution, is coupled with a state-of-the-art high speed 18-bit analog-to-digital converter and 4 port parallel readout to deliver low noise, a true 17,500:1 dynamic range and ultra fast readout times simultaneously for the first time in such a detector.
The full-frame CCD sensor uses proprietary 2-phase architecture with large pixels for wide dynamic range. To increase the sensitivity of the chip, one of the two polysilicon gates used in conventional CCD sensors has been replaced with the transparent conductor indium-tin-oxide (ITO). This architecture eliminates the need to resort to backside illumination and provides the intrinsically superior dark current characteristics needed to generate the highest quality data.
With a large 94 mm x 94 mm (133 mm diagonal) image area, the Rigaku Saturn 944+ is the definitive CCD X-ray detector specifically optimized for the high throughput and spatial resolution needs of protein and macromolecular crystallography. For small molecule crystallography, the Saturn 724+ features a 72 mm x 72 mm image area (102 mm diagonal). Both detector systems employ an extremely reliable closed loop Joule-Thompson cooling system (no water required) and an in-camera LDC status display panel.
Complimenting the Saturn+ line is the Rigaku Saturn A200, the first "next generation" large area CCD detector to be offered. Incorporating a 2 x 2 array of the Kodak® KAF-4320E CCD chips, with a 203 x 203 mm active area, the Saturn A200 brings a new dimension to both synchrotron and home laboratory data collection.
