Differential properties of parametric X-ray radiation from a thin crystal

Abstract

Parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) is a new type of radiation arising in the vicinity of Bragg directions from relativistic charged particles moving through a crystal. The PXR is a monochromatic, polarized, directed X-ray radiation, enabling the tuning of direction, polarization and frequency of radiation. The experimental studies of PXR properties have been undertaken in the USSR since the middle of the 80s. The review is concerned with the following PXR properties: PXR coherence, the row effect for PXR, spectral line width, PXR angular distribution, absolute differential yield, influence of incident electron energy and density effect on PXR properties, PXR properties at angular distance from Bragg directions. Experimental setups at linacs and the results of measurements of PXR properties are discussed for incident electron energies of 15.7, 25.7, 1200 MeV and for energies of PXR spectral lines between 5 and 400 keV. A smooth tuning of PXR spectral line energy is demonstrated by experiments. The experimental results are compared to calculations. Possibilities for PXR applications are discussed.