Boro-silicate polycapillary lens for collimation of x-rays

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the collimation of x rays produced by transition radiation using the NPS Electron Linear Accelerator. These measurements support the theory that x rays can be focused using a boro-silicate array o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chase, Michael B.
Other Authors: Maruyama, Xavier K.
Language:English
Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10945/8034
Description
Summary:Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited === The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the collimation of x rays produced by transition radiation using the NPS Electron Linear Accelerator. These measurements support the theory that x rays can be focused using a boro-silicate array of polycapillaries consisting of 258 bundles with 1387 micro- channels each. A 90 MeV electron beam incident upon a non-resonant mylar stack formed transition radiation spatially distributed in an annular cone. The electron beam was deflected 30 degrees using a rare earth permanent magnet. The diverging x-rays incident upon the lens array were transported through total external reflection and directed out of the array onto a phosphor screen. A digital camera recorded the phosphorescing image of the screen. Pixel intensity was analyzed to determine x ray intensity as a function of two dimensional spatial distribution. Column average profiles of the pixel intensity show that the transition radiation intensity retains its Gaussian distribution after being redirected from a diverging beam into a mostly parallel beam. The intensity of the x-rays decreased by a factor of 0.72 due to the obstructed area at the face of the array and to imperfect admittance of the diverging x ray cone into the polycapillary array.