VOXES: a high precision X-ray spectrometer for diffused sources with HAPG crystals in the 2-20 keV range

TL;DR

VOXES is a novel high-precision X-ray spectrometer using HAPG crystals designed to efficiently measure diffused sources with sub-eV accuracy in the 2-20 keV range, expanding the applicability of Bragg spectroscopy.

Contribution

This work introduces a cost-effective, high-resolution X-ray spectrometer capable of analyzing extended sources, overcoming limitations of traditional Bragg spectroscopy.

Findings

Achieved energy resolution at the eV level for 2-20 keV X-rays.

Demonstrated effective measurement of diffused, extended sources.

Presented initial results validating the spectrometer's performance.

Abstract

Bragg spectroscopy is one of the best established experimental methods for high energy resolution X-ray measurements and has been widely used in several fields, going from fundamental physics to quantum mechanics tests, synchrotron radiation and X-FEL applications, astronomy, medicine and industry. However, this technique is limited to the measurement of photons produced from well collimated or point-like sources and becomes quite inefficient for photons coming from extended and diffused sources like those,for example, emitted in the exotic atoms radiative transitions. The VOXES project's goal is to realise a prototype of a high resolution and high precision X-ray spectrometer, using Highly Annealed Pyrolitic Graphite (HAPG) crystals in the Von Hamos configuration, working also for extended sources. The aim is to deliver a cost effective system having an energy resolution at the level of eV for X rays energies from about 2 keV up to tens of keV, able to perform sub-eV precision measurements with non point-like sources. In this paper, the working principle of VOXES, together with first results, are presented.