Thin Large Beryllium Window

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.