High Performance X-Ray Transmission Windows Based on Graphenic Carbon

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high-performance x-ray transmission window made from graphenic carbon, offering improved low-energy x-ray transmission, mechanical stability, and safety over traditional beryllium windows.

Contribution

The development of a novel graphenic carbon x-ray window that replaces beryllium with a safer, more effective, and environmentally friendly material, without compromising performance.

Findings

Enhanced low-energy x-ray transmission (0.1-3 keV)

Excellent mechanical stability and tightness

Elimination of support grid and light blocking layers

Abstract

A novel x-ray transmission window based on graphenic carbon has been developed with superior performance compared to beryllium transmission windows that are currently used in the field. Graphenic carbon in combination with an integrated silicon frame allows for a window design which does not use a mechanical support grid or additional light blocking layers. Compared to beryllium, the novel x-ray transmission window exhibits an improved transmission in the low energy region ($0.1 hbox{keV}-3 hbox{keV}$ ) while demonstrating excellent mechanical stability, as well as light and vacuum tightness. Therefore, the newly established graphenic carbon window, can replace beryllium in x-ray transmission windows with a nontoxic and abundant material. Index terms: Beryllium, Carbon, Graphene, Thin films, X-ray applications, X-ray detectors