Measurement of the characteristic x ray of oxygen and other ultrasoft x rays using mercuric iodide detectors

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This letter reports the detection and resolution of the characteristic x ray of oxygen at 523 eV and other ultrasoft x rays (photons energy less than 1 keV) using radiation detectors fabricated from the compound semi‐insulator mercuric iodide (HgI2). These detectors are capable of operation at room ambient but in these experiments were slightly cooled using a Peltier element to 0 °C. A pulsed light feedback preamplifier with a Peltier element cooled (to −30 °) first stage field‐effect transistor was used to amplify signals from the detector. Overall system noise level was 185 eV (full width at half‐maximum) limited by the temperature of the first stage field‐effect transistor. With optimal cooling of this element the characteristic x ray of carbon at 282 eV should be measurable. These results would seem to be important in measurement of biological samples in electron column instruments.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: