X-ray Window Incorporating a Polymer Support Structure

Advances in soft X-ray detector technology have enabled higher count rates while maintaining high spectral resolution. These new superconducting detectors share the common form of a pixilated active area that must be operated in the milli-Kelvin temperature range below the boiling temperature of liquid helium. Because the cryogenic detectors are under high vacuum and must be able to sense ambient-temperature samples, a thermal-shielding X-ray transmitting vacuum-interface window is needed. Windows larger than about 1 cm diameter are currently unavailable. We propose to produce an ultra-thin window with an integral polymer support structure made from the same material as the film and having an engineered high aspect ratio fine and coarse mesh structure. The largest successful design will become a sub-window in a larger window array. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: This technology will allow the DOE to utilize new detector technology at its synchrotron light source sites which will enable faster X-ray analysis for many diverse fields such as crystallography, catalyst development, forensic sciences, the development of new pharmaceuticals, nanotechnology and integrated circuit fabrication.