High-energy Gratings Research Articles

High-transmission spectrometer for rapid resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering (rRIXS) maps.

The design and first results of a high-transmission soft X-ray spectrometer operated at the X-SPEC double-undulator beamline of the KIT Light Source are presented. As a unique feature, particular emphasis was placed on optimizing the spectrometer transmission by maximizing the solid angle and the efficiencies of spectrometer gratings and detector. A CMOS detector, optimized for soft X-rays, allows for quantum efficiencies of 90% or above over the full energy range of the spectrometer, while simultaneously offering short readout times. Combining an optimized control system at the X-SPEC beamline with continuous energy scans (as opposed to step scans), the high transmission of the spectrometer, and the fast readout of the CMOS camera, enable the collection of entire rapid resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering maps in less than 1 min. Series of spectra at a fixed energy can be taken with a frequency of up to 5 Hz. Furthermore, the use of higher-order reflections allows a very wide energy range (45 to 2000 eV) to be covered with only two blazed gratings, while keeping the efficiency high and the resolving power E/ΔE above 1500 and 3000 with low- and high-energy gratings, respectively.

Analysis of the 3C 445 soft X-ray spectrum as observed by Chandra high-energy gratings

We present a detailed analysis of the soft X-ray emission of 3C 445 using an archival Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) spectrum. Highly-ionized H- and He-like Mg, Si and S lines, as well as a resolved low-ionized Si Kα line, are detected in the high resolution spectrum. The He-like triplets of Mg and Si are resolved into individual lines, and the calculated R ratios indicate a high density for the emitter. The low values of G ratios indicate the lines originate from collisionally ionized plasmas. However, the detection of a resolved narrow Ne X radiative recombination continua (RRC) feature in the spectrum seems to prefer a photoionized environment. The spectrum is subsequently modeled with a photoionization model, and the results are compared with those of a collisional model. Through a detailed analysis of the spectrum, we exclude a collisional origin for these emission lines. A one-component photoionization model provides a great fit to the emission features. The best-fit parameters are erg cm s−1, cm−3 and cm−2. According to the calculated high density for the emitter, the measured velocity widths of the emission lines and the inferred radial distance (6 × 1014 – 8 × 1015 cm), we suggest the emission lines originating from matter are located in the broad line region (BLR).

Replica grating radiation damage in a normal incidence monochromator

Experience with the Synchrotron Radiation Center 4 meter normal incidence monochromator has revealed short operational life for the high energy gratings. Within periods as short as 6 months, the resolution of the gratings degraded sufficiently to limit the resolution to values expected with 80 micron slits. This decrease in resolution occurs without any noticeable changes in the efficiency or throughput of the grating. The resolution degradation has been shown to have been caused by light between 100 and 200 eV, which was transmitted through the gold layer of the replica grating and caused shrinkage of the epoxy. This resulted in distortion of the surface. The problem was solved by ordering a special replica grating with a double layer of gold. Calculations indicate that a thicker gold layer should decrease the flux penetrating the epoxy layer by a factor of ten slowing down the deterioration of the grating figure. A grating with a double thickness gold layer has been operating in the monochromator for more than one year with no noticeable decrease in the resolution.

Construction of constant-deviation constant-length spherical grating monochromator at UVSOR

A constant-deviation constant-length spherical grating monochromator was constructed at the bending-magnet beamline 8B1 of the UVSOR. The monochromator has a simple scanning mechanism with a fixed position of the entrance and exit slits, as well as fixed directions of incident and exit photon beams. The monochromator was designed to cover the photon energy of 31–620 eV with three interchangeable laminar gratings (1080 lines/mm: R=15 m, 540 lines/mm: R=15 m, 360 lines/mm: R=7.5 m). All gratings are original gratings fabricated on synthetic quartz substrates and coated with Au. The resolving power evaluated by ray tracing at the lowest energy of each grating with 10 μm slit width is ∼4400 for two high energy gratings and ∼7000 for a low energy grating. In the preliminary performance check, it was found that the output spectrum of the monochromator with G1 grating extends up to 870 eV with resolving power of ∼4000 at 400 eV with 10 μm slits.

Transmission grating spectroscopy and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility

The use of transmission gratings with grazing-incidence telescopes in celestial x-ray astronomy is reviewed. The basic properties of transmission grating spectrometers and the use of "phased" gratings to enhance the diffraction efficiency are outlined. Special attention is given to the AXAF high-energy transmission grating (HETG) being fabricated at MIT. The HETG operates over the range 0.4 to 8 keV, gives resolving powers of 100 to 1000, effective areas of 10 to 300 cm², and a minimum detectable line flux of 1 to 10 x 10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1. The instrument consists of a single array with two types of membrane-supported grating facets: medium-energy gratings (0.6-μm period, 0.5-μm-thick silver) mounted behind the outer three AXAF mirrors, and high-energy gratings (0.2-μm period, 1.0-μm-thick gold) mounted behind the inner three mirrors. The materials and thicknesses are selected to maximize efficiency throughout the energy band. The facets are fabricated at MIT using a process involving x-ray lithography. AXAF will also carry a low-energy transmission grating (LETG) supplied by the Laboratory for Space Research at Utrecht. It uses mesh-supported grating facets of 1.0-μm period and is optimized for operation down to 80 eV. Gratings are most effective for the study of point sources, but they also give moderate resolution spectra of slightly extended sources and can be used to map the spatial distribution of line-emitting regions.