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Thin Large Beryllium Window

Programme
TDE
Programme Reference
B00012163
Prime Contractor
HEIKKI SIPILA OY
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
Finland
Thin Large Beryllium Window
Description

Problem – Traditional X-ray windows

Both in industrial and space applications there is need of larger area X-ray windows and filters with higher performance.
In X-ray window thin membranes from materials containing light elements are used to avoid soft X-ray absorption. Structures should be extremely thin, radiation tolerant, tolerate over 1 atm differential pressures, hermetically tight, temperature insensitive, and withstand vibrations.
àContradictory demands sets a challenge for X-ray window foil.
Low atomic number beryllium has good transmission.
Downsides: Toxity, layer thicknesses, corrosion properties
Plastic X-ray windows based on polymers are the most typical choice for applications dealing with soft X-rays .
Downsides: Operating temperature range, inefficient diffusion barriers.
Scaling up the area of beryllium and polymer films with decent strength requires a supporting grid structure. Such a grid reduces the transmission of the window because typically the grid material absorbs soft X-rays efficiently.
Application Domain
GEN-Generic Technologies
Technology Domain
17 - Optoelectronics
Competence Domain
1-EEE Components, Photonics, MEMS
Initial TRL
TRL N/A
Target TRL
TRL N/A
Achieved TRL
TRL N/A
Public Document