CZT strip detectors for imaging and spectroscopy: collimated beam and ASIC readout experiments

We report the status of ongoing investigations into cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) strip detectors for application in hard X-ray astronomy. We have instrumented a nine strip by nine strip region of a two sided strip detector made in our detector fabrication facility. In order to measure the position resolution of our detectors, we have implemented a collimated beam that concentrates radiation to a spot size less than 50 /spl mu/m. We have placed a 30 /spl mu/m upper limit on the width of the point spread function for this system. We have also performed charge collection studies as a function of incident photon energy and bias voltage with a single sided, 100 /spl mu/m pitch CZT strip detector wire bonded to an SVX ASIC charge amplifier. The detectors exhibited excellent strip uniformity in terms of photon count rate and spectroscopic information.