X-ray spectrometer using a free-standing transmission grating and a microchannel plate as detector for laser plasma studies

Abstract

We have developed a new soft x-ray spectrometer covering the photon energy range 50–500 eV. It employs a free-standing transmission grating coupled to a microchannelplate detector. The performance of the device was tested by using radiation from a synchrotron with a continuous spectrum. The detector shows a rather flat response over most of the useful spectral range, with an abrupt decrease in the sensitivity at the short-wavelength end. Its simplicity of operation makes the device attractive for such applications as the study of soft x-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas.

Complementary ion and extreme ultra-violet spectrometer for laser-plasma diagnosis

“…Additionally, the transmission grating spectrometer allows easy detection of the spatial distribution of an XUV emission source in the full measured spectral range in a direction perpendicular to dispersion 17 if an appropriate magnifying geometry is used. 10 The spatial resolution is determined by the source projection through the pinhole with diameter D with magnification ⌫ ͑⌫ = b / a, where a and b are the distances between source-pinhole and pinhole-detector͒ and is given by ⌬L = ͓͑⌫ +1͒ / ⌫͔D.…”

Diagnosis of the soft X-ray spectrum emitted by laser-plasmas using a spectroscopic photon sieve

“…There are various diffraction elements for dispersing soft X-rays, for example, crystal (Koenig et al, 1997;Arora et al, 2000), grazing grating (Chowdhury et al, 1999), or transmission grating (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996). In contrast, transmission grating spectrographs (TGS) operating at normal incidence are convenient to use and can be coupled to detectors such as microchannel plates (MCPs) and charge-coupled-device (CCD) cameras for online monitoring (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Alexandrov et al, 1988;Zeng et al, 1992) and streak cameras for temporally resolved measurements (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Bourgade et al, 1988;Sigel et al, 1992). In contrast, transmission grating spectrographs (TGS) operating at normal incidence are convenient to use and can be coupled to detectors such as microchannel plates (MCPs) and charge-coupled-device (CCD) cameras for online monitoring (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Alexandrov et al, 1988;Zeng et al, 1992) and streak cameras for temporally resolved measurements (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Bourgade et al, 1988;Sigel et al, 1992).…”

“…Although crystal spectrographs based on Bragg reflection and flat field grating spectrographs based on Rowland circle geometry can be used to achieve high spectral resolution, these are quite cumbersome in operation and require critical alignment. As a matter of fact, TGS have been widely used in laser-plasma studies requiring a wide spectral range (0.5 nm-20 nm), and a moderate resolution (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Alexandrov et al, 1988;Eidmann et al, 1986;Bourgade et al, 1988;Zeng et al, 1992;Sigel et al, 1992). As a matter of fact, TGS have been widely used in laser-plasma studies requiring a wide spectral range (0.5 nm-20 nm), and a moderate resolution (Fiedorowicz et al, 1996;Alexandrov et al, 1988;Eidmann et al, 1986;Bourgade et al, 1988;Zeng et al, 1992;Sigel et al, 1992).…”