Experimental Dispersing Devices and Detection Systems for Soft X-Rays

Abstract

Instrumentation for soft X-ray research is briefly described. Preliminary results are shown for several dispersing systems which have been found useful in the 10 to 60 Å region. Results from single crystals of Group 1A salts of phthalic acid are discussed and intensity measurements are reported. Other organic single crystals, such as long-chain derivatives of adipic acid are evaluated, along with films of organic compounds prepared by the Blodgètt-Langmuir technique. The efficiencies of the dispersing elements mentioned above are compared with commercial crystals such as mica, gypsum, ADP, and EDDT. Performance of detectors for soft X-rays is shown for fiow-proportional and Geiger counters, a solid state silicon barrier detector, and a windowless resistance strip magnetic electron multiplier. The relative efficiencies of several photocathode materials for the latter are discussed. The design for a scintillation counter sensitive over a wide energy range is discussed and preliminary results using the counter in the region 1-15 Å are shown.