High Performance X-ray Transmission Windows Based on Graphenic Carbon

A novel x-ray transmission window based on graphenic carbon (GC) has been developed and integrated into a silicon drift detector (SDD) with much better performance than beryllium transmission windows that are currently used in the eld [1]. GC integrated on a silicon frame allows for a 7 mm wide window which does not use a mechanical support grid or additional light blocking layers. Compared to beryllium, the novel GC window exhibits an improved x-ray transmission in the important low energy region (0.1 keV { 3 keV) enabling the detection of C and F while demonstrating excellent mechanical stability, as well as light and vacuum tightness. Be-windows with an opening diameter of 7 mm are speciffied to withstand a differential pressure of 2 bar. The GC window with a thickness of 1 micrometer exceed this requirement. Pressure cycle fatigue for Be-windows is speciffied to 20k cycles, while GC has already demonstrated more than 4 million pressure cycles without damage. Therefore, the newly established GC window, can replace beryllium in x-ray transmission windows with a nontoxic and abundant material. [1] S. Huebner et al., accepted for publication in IEEE Trans. on Nuclear Science     «

A novel x-ray transmission window based on graphenic carbon (GC) has been developed and integrated into a silicon drift detector (SDD) with much better performance than beryllium transmission windows that are currently used in the eld [1]. GC integrated on a silicon frame allows for a 7 mm wide window which does not use a mechanical support grid or additional light blocking layers. Compared to beryllium, the novel GC window exhibits an improved x-ray transmission in the important low energy regi...     »