Two-chip charge amplifier system for high resolution, high count rate readout

A microsystem made of two chips has been designed. One chip contains the silicon drift detector with integrated front-end electronics and the other contains the transresistance amplifier, to perform as a functional charge amplifier. The system is intended for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic applications and aims to reach the maximum stability in the charge-to-voltage conversion irrespective of temperature, detector bias and rate variations during operation. The reset mechanism operates in continuous mode through an MOS device integrated on the detector chip and biased in subthreshold condition.