The XRS microcalorimeter spectrometer at the Livermore electron beam ion trap
Boyce, K. R.; Kilbourne, C. A.; Porter, F. S.; Kelley, R. L.; Kahn, S. M.; Chen, H.; Brown, G. V.; Beiersdorfer, P.; Gygax, J.; Beck, B. R.; Magee, E.; Thorn, D. B.
Abstract
NASAs X-ray spectrometer (XRS) microcalorimeter instrument has been operating at the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory since July of 2000. The spectrometer is currently undergoing its third major upgrade to become an easy to use and extremely high-performance instrument for a broad range of EBIT experiments. The spectrometer itself is broadband, capable of simultaneously operating from 0.1 to 12keV and has been operated at up to 100keV by manipulating its operating conditions. The spectral resolution closely follows the spaceflight version of the XRS, beginning at 10eV FWHM at 6keV in 2000, upgraded to 5.5eV in 2003, and will hopefully be ~3.8eV in the fall of 2007. Here we review the operating principles of this unique instrument, the extraordinary science that has been performed at EBIT over the last six years, and prospects for future upgrades. Specifically, we discuss upgrades to cover the high-energy band (to at least 100keV) with a high quantum efficiency detector and prospects for using a new superconducting detector to reach 0.8eV resolution at 1keV and 2eV at 6keV with high counting rates. PACS Nos.: 52.25.Os, 52.70.La, 95.85.Nv, 32.30.Rj, 07.85.Fv, 78.70.En