Excellent Point-Spread Function

The point-spread function (PSF) describes the spatial resolution of an imaging detector. Due to the direct conversion of X-rays into charge pulses, PILATUS3 detectors spread virtually no intensity between pixels. Even above the absorption edges of the CdTe sensor, only very little signal is spread by fluorescence to the neighboring pixels. The point-spread function of the PILATUS3 detector is thus essentially given by its pixel size (172 µm) and allows optimally sharp images to be taken. These are free of artifacts typical for other detectors (such as blur, intensity tails, blooming, or streaking). With the sharp point-spread function in combination with the high dynamic range of the detector, closely spaced signals even of largely differing intensity, can be accurately resolved and measured.