Characterizing x-ray transmission through filters used in high energy density physics diagnostics

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments 2021-06, Vol.92 (6), p.063502-063502
• Main Authors: Pearcy, J., Kabadi, N., Birkel, A., Adrian, P., Lahmann, B., Reichelt, B., Johnson, T. M., Sutcliffe, G., Kunimune, J., Gatu-Johnson, M., Bose, A., Li, C. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cathode rays; CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; Electrometers; Energy spectra; Flux density; High energy density physics; Instruments & Instrumentation; Lasers; Optical metrology; OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; Physics; Scientific apparatus & instruments; Semiconductor detectors; Spectrometry; Statistical analysis; X ray sources; X ray spectrometers; X-ray diagnostics; X-ray spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0034-6748; 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0043770

We report on the design and implementation of a new system used to characterize the energy-dependent x-ray transmission curve, Θ(E), through filters used in high-energy density physics diagnostics. Using an Amptek X-123-CdTe x-ray spectrometer together with a partially depleted silicon surface barrier detector, both the energy spectrum and total emission of an x-ray source have been accurately measured. By coupling these detectors with a custom PROTO-XRD x-ray source with interchangeable cathodes, accurate characterizations of Θ(E) for filters of varying materials and thicknesses have been obtained. The validity of the technique has been confirmed by accurately reproducing areal densities for high-purity filters with known x-ray transmission properties. In this paper, the experimental setup is described and the results of absorption calibrations performed on a variety of different filters are presented.