Low X-Ray Energy Fluorescence Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) for XAS Studies

Author

Mir, J.A. ; Sole, D. ; Lipp, J.D. ; Stephenson, R. ; Purton, J.A. ; Savin, S.L.P. ; Chadwick, A.V. ; O´Dell, L.

Author_Institution

Rutherford Appleton Lab., Didcot

Volume

54

Issue

6

fYear

2007

Firstpage

2637

Lastpage

2641

Abstract

X-ray absorption spectroscopy at sub-keV energies dictates the use of detectors that can attain a good signal-to-noise ratio. We report a recent study undertaken at Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory to evaluate the performance of a gas electron multiplier (GEM) for this purpose. The main impetus of this study was to investigate the relevant parameters such as the effective gain and energy resolution in the X-ray energy range of 270-930 eV. This study demonstrated that a single stage GEM can sustain effective gains up to 60,000 in a helium-isobutane counter gas mixture at atmospheric pressure. Consequently, high signal-to-noise ratios were achieved (electronic noise electrons r.m.s) thereby permitting adequate X-ray energy resolution.

Keywords

X-ray absorption spectra; X-ray detection; X-ray fluorescence analysis; electron multiplier detectors; position sensitive particle detectors; GEM detector; X-ray absorption spectroscopy; X-ray energy fluorescence gas electron multiplier; XAS; effective gains; electron volt energy 270 eV to 930 eV; electronic noise; energy resolution; helium-isobutane counter gas mixture; Councils; Electromagnetic wave absorption; Electron multipliers; Energy resolution; Fluorescence; Laboratories; Signal to noise ratio; Spectroscopy; X-ray detection; X-ray detectors; Effective gain; X-ray absorption spectroscopy; X-ray energy resolution; gas electron multiplier;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2007.908699

Filename

4395399