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Polycapillary X-Ray Optics for X-Ray Astronomy

Published

Author(s)

C H. Russell, Andrey Guber, K Kolodziejczak, M Joy, C A. MacDonald, W M. Gibson

Abstract

High-energy x-ray spectrometry from astronomical sources is difficult due to low flux rates and high background. Polycapillary X-ray optics can be used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by focusing photons onto a small energy dispersive detector. Two optics, both designed for x-ray astronomy, have been built and tested as collimating optics with a microfocus x-ray source for x-ray energies up to 70 keV and as focusing optics with parallel x-rays up to 50 keV. Results from these tests show that polycapillary x-ray optics have transmission efficiencies greater than 5% and signal gains over 30 for energies up to 50 keV. Furthermore the results show that these optics have potential for use up to 100 keV. The experimental results as well as simulations for the measured and for optimized optics will be discussed.
Citation
Advances In X-Ray Analysis

Keywords

polycapillary optics, x-ray astronomy, x-ray collector, x-ray optics

Citation

Russell, C. , Guber, A. , Kolodziejczak, K. , Joy, M. , MacDonald, C. and Gibson, W. (2008), Polycapillary X-Ray Optics for X-Ray Astronomy, Advances In X-Ray Analysis (Accessed July 26, 2024)

Issues

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Created October 16, 2008