Sahara II

The Sahara II Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) is PGT's latest addition to our extensive line of X-ray detectors. Evolving from the original Sahara SDD, introduced in 2001, Sahara II features high performance with no liquid nitrogen, no moving parts, no vibration and no maintenance. Sahara II is the ideal solution for users looking to relieve the burden and cost of liquid nitrogen and still maintain excellent X-ray performance. And because it's vibration-free, the Sahara is the best choice when working at high magnifications (>50,000X.)

Active detector area sizes are offered in 10mm2, 30mm2, and 100mm2. PGT is the only SDD manufacturer to offer the largest detector in the industry at 100mm2.

Sahara detectors are available with PGT's exclusive Variable Z interface, which guarantees optimum geometry regardless of the microscope's configuration or application. Sahara's high count rate performance and ability to maintain resolution and calibration over an extremely wide count rate range makes it the perfect solution for rapid collection on electron tolerant samples (metals, ceramics, composites, etc.), and excellent efficiency on all samples. Environmental and low vacuum SEMS, FESEMs and TEMs benefit from the excellent low-end sensitivity and trouble free operation of these detectors.

Unlike a conventional Si(Li) detector, the SDD design features a unique electrical field shape and signal path, low capacitance relative to the active surface area, and a small anode and integral FET on the surface of the device. This design results in optimum signal shaping and resolution specification at 1 ms, compared to 10 ms or longer for a conventional Si(Li). And the short shaping time yields another advantage - exceptional high-count rate performance with little compromise in energy resolution.

The Sahara II brings low energy performance into the realm once occupied only by Si(Li) detectors achieving resolutions below 125eV. Couple this with ultra-high count rates, and the Sahara II is clearly the performance leader. Featuring our proprietary thin window technology, the Sahara provides the best low energy sensitivity available - down to Boron with the 129 eV resolution Sahara and down to Carbon with the 138 eV resolution Sahara.
Stability

Variable Z (VZ) is a unique feature on PGT detectors that allows tilting the detector in the vertical direction while under vacuum. This lets you optimize count rate regardless of the microscope and sample geometry. Whether you need to make measurements at short working distances for low vacuum work, or longer working distances for lower magnification and large samples, Variable Z puts you in control. Doing EDS under variable pressure on a sample at 5mm working distance one moment, then EDS/EBSD at 20mm the next moment…Try that with a fixed-geometry detector.

• Sahara II SDD VS. Mechanically/Peltier Cooled Si(Li)
• 30 Second Cool Down vs. Hours
• Operating Temperature -15 C vs. -200 C
• No Moving Parts vs. Mechanical compressors or water chillers
• NO Vibration vs. transfer of mechanical vibration to the electron column