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We present multitone harmonic-balance (MTHB) simulations of a Ti–Au x-ray transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter in a 5×5 pixel spectrometer array. The dynamic response of the TES microcalorimeter under simulation has been extremely well characterized at the BESSY II Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Berlin. We compare our simulated results directly with these measurements, and show that the MTHB algorithm is able to simulate to great accuracy the dynamic behavior of the TES, even when saturated by 6 keV photons. In this paper, we provide a detailed account of the MTHB simulations, and discuss the impact of this work on future missions such as the International X-ray Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel flat-response x-ray detector has been developed for the measurement of radiation flux from a hohlraum. In order to obtain a flat response in the photon energy range of 0.1–4 keV, it is found that both the cathode and the filter of the detector can be made of gold. A further improvement on the compound filter can then largely relax the requirement of the calibration x-ray beam. The calibration of the detector, which is carried out on Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility at Institute of High Energy Physics, shows that the detector has a desired flat response in the photon energy range of 0.1–4 keV, with a response flatness smaller than 13%. The detector has been successfully applied in the hohlraum experiment on Shenguang-III prototype laser facility. The radiation temperatures inferred from the detector agree well with those from the diagnostic instrument Dante installed at the same azimuth angle from the hohlraum axis, demonstrating the feasibility of the detector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the feasibility of near edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy on solids by means of femtosecond soft x-ray pulses from a free-electron laser (FEL). Our experiments, carried out at the FEL at Hamburg used a special sample geometry, spectrographic energy dispersion, single shot position-sensitive detection, and a data normalization procedure that eliminates the severe fluctuations of the incident intensity in space and photon energy. As an example, we recorded the 3D1 N4,5 edge absorption resonance of La3+ ions in LaMnO3. Our study opens the door for x-ray absorption measurements on future x-ray FEL facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]