LAUSR

The detection module of the ARDESIA spectrometer, an SDD-based, multichannel X-ray detector is presented. The detector design and experimental characterization are discussed. ARDESIA has been optimized for synchrotron radiation applications that require high-rate (>1-Mcps per channel) and high-resolution (better than 200 eV at 6 keV) X-ray detection. The main target applications considered in this development are X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, in particular for the DAFNE-Light DXR1 beamline at LNF (Frascati, Italy). This detector is based on a compact unit (16 mm $\times16$ mm) that can be replicated and juxtaposed with several units, thus easily covering different detection configurations. The detector consists of a four-channel monolithic array of SDDs, produced by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Trento, Italy) connected to a four-channel monolithic CUBE preamplifier mounted on the same carrier. The CUBE preamplifier, compatible with both analog and digital pulse processing, enables reaching high count rates (1-Mcps per channel), while keeping good spectroscopic performances. It is extremely low white series noise guarantees good energy resolution, even at short pulse processing times (below 200 ns).