High-resolution hard x-ray spectroscopy of high-temperature plasmas using an array of quantum microcalorimeters

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2953449· OSTI ID:21266488

Thorn, Daniel B; Gu, Ming F; Brown, Greg V; Beiersdorfer, Peter ^[1]; Porter, F Scott; Kilbourne, Caroline A; Kelley, Richard L ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
2. Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA, Maryland 20771 (United States)

Quantum microcalorimeters show promise in being able to fully resolve x-ray spectra from heavy highly charged ions, such as would be found in hot plasmas with temperatures in excess of 50 keV. Quantum microcalorimeter arrays are able to achieve this as they have a high-resolving power and good effective quantum efficiency for hard x-ray photons up to 60 keV. To demonstrate this, we present a measurement using an array of thin HgTe quantum microcalorimeters to measure the K-shell spectrum of hydrogenlike through carbonlike praseodymium (Z=57). With this device we are able to attain a resolving power, E/{delta}E, of 1000 at a photon energy of 37 keV.

• OSTI ID: 21266488
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 79, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2953449; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CALORIMETERS
HARD X RADIATION
HOT PLASMA
IONS
K SHELL
KEV RANGE
MERCURY TELLURIDES
PHOTONS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PRASEODYMIUM
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
RESOLUTION
SPECTROSCOPY
X-RAY SPECTRA