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We have measured the response of chromium-doped alumina screens to soft x-ray radiation and derived quantum efficiency curves for the energy range from 2.5 to 4.5 keV. Persistent luminescence (or afterglow) from this material is observed for several minutes following the removal of the x-ray source. It is also observed that the luminescence output rises gradually for several minutes before maximizing during x-ray irradiation. In the article we discuss possible sources of this delayed luminescence and its consequences for application of these screens as soft x-ray detectors. Such screens have found application as narrow-band radiation detectors for a hot fusion plasma diagnostic.

We have measured the response of chromium-doped alumina screens to vacuum ultraviolet radiation and derived quantum efficiency curves for the energy range from 30 to 300 eV. A model is presented to explain the structure in this curve. In addition, the radiation hardness of such screens, which have found application as narrow-band radiation detectors for a hot fusion plasma diagnostic, is reported here for MeV electrons. Finally, a simple model is constructed to obtain the carrier diffusion length and the bulk efficiency of this material.

The Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF III) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology provides a unique opportunity for high-accuracy ultraviolet (UV) to infrared radiometry due to the 70-fold improvement in the uniformity of the magnetic field from the previous generation of SURF. This improvement enables the properties of the output radiation, such as spectral power, angular spread, and polarization, to be more accurately predicted based on the use of the Schwinger’s equation. The radiation from SURF III is completely characterized by only three parameters, the magnetic field, the radius of the electron beam trajectory, and the electron beam current. For radiometry, the calculability of SURF III provides an important standard light source for source intercomparison. In contrast to the widely used blackbody source where the thermal radiation is completely characterized by the temperature and the emissivity of the blackbody walls, synchrotron radiation extends the wavelength range to UV and x ray which is impractical for blackbody sources. At SURF III, a new beamline, beamline 3, is constructed as a white light beamline for source-based radiometry. We describe the design of the new beamline 3 and its front-end high accuracy electron beam current monitor. This monitor not only measures one of the three fundamental parameters, the electron beam current, it also serves as an electron beam diagnostic tool. We also discuss ways to verify the calculability of SURF III using filter radiometers.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has operated the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF) continuously since the early 1960s. The original accelerator was converted into a storage ring, called SURF II, in 1974. Then in 1998, motivated mainly by limitations in the accuracy of radiometric calibrations and the wish to extend the spectrum of the emitted synchrotron radiation to shorter wavelengths, a second major upgrade was performed. This time the whole magnet system was replaced to improve the calculability and allow for higher magnetic fields. Since the recommissioning of SURF III we have been working to improve the stability of the stored electron beam through modifications of the radio-frequency system, leading to operations with unprecedented stability and new record injection currents topping 700 mA.

Suppression of beam instabilities has become an important goal at synchrotron radiation light sources, where highly sensitive applications like metrology, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and microscopy are now in use. We describe measurements connecting beam size and position changes to the onset of the saw-tooth instability and an instability generated by attempts to enlarge the vertical beam size for lifetime improvements.

Carbon nanosheets, a two-dimensional carbon nanostructure, are promising electron cathode materials for applications in vacuum microelectronic devices. This letter demonstrates a simple approach to improve the spatial emission uniformity of carbon nanosheets by coating them with a chromium oxide thin film. Photoelectron emission microscopy observations and in situ field emission tests revealed that chromium oxide coated carbon nanosheets not only have spatial uniformity but also have coating thickness dependent field emission properties. For example, a coating thickness of ∼1.5nm gave a substantially greater field emission than as-grown nanosheets or other thickness coatings.

We designed and constructed a cylindrical gas proportional counter that can be used to analyze the linear polarization of x rays with a wide range of energy from 2 keV to 10 keV. The polarization sensitivity is based on the highly nonisotropic scattering of polarized x rays from a gas or solid target. The gas proportional counter surrounds the scattering chamber and measures the scattered x rays as a function of the azimuthal angle. The angle of scattered x rays is determined by the charge division of the anode resistive wire. This polarimeter without any moving parts can measure x rays with continuous energies. It is specially suitable for synchrotron x rays. We discuss the testing and performance of such an x‐ray polarimeter.