Digital Imaging Plate (DIP) Camera for Very High Spatial Resolution, Soft X-Ray Imaging

Summary form only given. Digital imaging plates (DIP) are relatively new technology although the concept has been under development for over 20 years. The DIP base is coated with a rare-earth compound. When exposed to ionizing radiation, the compound is left in a metastable excited state. When subsequently exposed to red light, the excited state relaxes with the release of blue fluorescent light. The amount of blue light is proportional to the amount of ionizing energy absorbed. Without an overcoat, the DIP should be usable to image soft x-rays. We report initial use of a DIP in a pinhole camera for argon K-shell (~3 keV) x-rays.