PILATUS3 Hybrid Photon Counting Detectors

Overview:

Since its introduction the hybrid photon counting technology implemented in the detectors manufactured by DECTRIS AG, Switzerland, have become the leading technology for synchrotron applications in crystallography and other fields of X-ray diffraction. The PILATUS3 R series of detectors have been designed specifically for home lab use. Technically, they are identical to the synchrotron versions except for the limited frame rate of "only" 20 images/second and will satisfy most in-house demands.

marXperts now offers full support for the PILATUS3 series of detectors with our mardtb goniostat. In fact, the PILATUS3 detectors of any size fit nicely on the mardtb and data collection is fully integrated into our well-known data collection software.

The key advantages of using a PILATUS3 detector with the mardtb are as follows:

• extremely short read-out time of 7 ms allows for fine φ-slicing
• shutterless data collection
• extremely high sensitivity
• extremely low noise
• high dynamic range (20 bits)
• no point-spread due to direct conversion leading to small spots with better I/σ  
• fast screening experiments

The short read-out time paired with an excellent sensitivity makes the PILATUS3 series of detectors highly suitable for in-house data collection or crystal screening on conventional X-ray sources like the marYX2G X-ray data collection system or rotating anode generators. Thanks to the very short read-out time the usual way of collecting data with the PILATUS3 detectors is to leave the shutter open until the end of data collection ("shutterless operation"). This reduces an instrument error factor and may be beneficial to the data quality.

Upgrade of  mar345dtb  to  mar200K / 300K / 1M:

Existing mar345dtb detector sytems can easily be upgraded with a PILATUS3 detector, i.e.  the mardtb can be used together with a PILATUS3 200K-A, 300K or 1M detector.  When  using the small PILATUS3 200K-A detector, it is possible to mount the detector in front of the mar345 detector. One can then easily take away the small 200K detector and use the large mar345 image plate detector if there is a need for a large detector surface. The only drawback for this special combination is that the range of movement of the distance translation stage of the mardtb goniostat is somewhat restricted: 22 to 150 mm for the PILATUS3 200K-A detector and 120 to 425 mm for the mar345 detector.

Configurations:

	mar200K/300K/1M: The PILATUS3 R 200K-A, 300K or 1M detector is mounted on a mardtb goniostat. The mardtb  “desktop beamline” features a fully automatic beam alignment system and more than 10 motors including an “inverted PHI” assembly and a 2-theta stage. The mar200K system is a complete data collection system that can be operated with any X-ray source (sealed tubes to synchrotrons), the most cost efficient combination being the marYX2G system.
	marYX2G: A PILATUS3 R 200K-A, 300K or 1M detector with a mardtb goniostat in combination with a marµS microfocus generator. This system is the perfect choice, when cost-of-ownership and maintenance issues come into play. Despite of the low price, the system is highly suitable for fast screening experiments, but also for complete data collections of small crystals and other kinds of diffraction experiments.
	MetalJet high end system: If you are aiming at the ultimate performance in the home lab, a combination of a MetalJet X-ray source with a PILATUS3 R 1M detector and a mardtb goniostat is the very best you can obtain today. Excillum's patented MetalJet technology beats any other conventional X-ray source in terms of brilliance and is a true alternative to a synchrotron. Please contact us for further details!

Specifications for PILATUS3 R series:

For a full list of specifications and further details about the PILATUS3 series of detectors please consult the DECTRIS web site.

Application note:

An exiting experiment has been done with a marYX2G X-ray generator system consisting of a marYS X-ray source, a mardtb goniostat and a PILATUS3 R 200K-A detector. The setup has been used to quickly collect with a capillary mounted lysozyme crystal at room temperature. Four hours of data collection were sufficient for ab initio phasing with the SHELX package. Please see the application note AN12Mar15 for further information or download the pdf file.

Another experiment has been carried out with a PILATUS3 R 1M detector mounted, again on a  marYX2G X-ray data collection system. This time, a much smaller frozen lysozyme has been used for ab-initio structure solution in a similar way. Please download the pdf file mar.AN31Jul15.pdf for further information.

Downloads and manuals:

• Product flyer (mar1M) (pdf: 1.2 MB)
• Product flyer (mar200K) (pdf: 1.2 MB)
• Manual for program mardtb (html)
• Application note mar.AN12Mar15 (pdf: 0.6 MB)
  "Sulfur-SAD phasing of lysozyme at room temperature with a PILATUS3 R 200K-A detector on a marYX2G micro-beam generator"
• Application note mar.AN31Jul15 (pdf: 1.4 MB)
  "Sulfur-SAD phasing of lysozyme with a PILATUS3 R 1M detector on a marYX2G micro-beam generator"