Single-Shot near Edge X-ray Fine Structure (NEXAFS) Spectroscopy Using a Laboratory Laser-Plasma Light Source

Abstract

We present a proof of principle experiment on single-shot near edge soft X-ray fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy with the use of a laboratory laser-plasma light source. The source is based on a plasma created as a result of the interaction of a nanosecond laser pulse with a double stream gas puff target. The laser-plasma source was optimized for efficient soft X-ray (SXR) emission from the krypton/helium target in the wavelength range from 2 nm to 5 nm. This emission was used to acquire simultaneously emission and absorption spectra of soft X-ray light from the source and from the investigated sample using a grazing incidence grating spectrometer. NEXAFS measurements in a transmission mode revealed the spectral features near the carbon K-α absorption edge of thin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and L-ascorbic acid in a single-shot. From these features, the composition of the PET sample was successfully obtained. The NEXAFS spectrum of the L-ascorbic acid obtained in a single-shot exposure was also compared to the spectrum obtained a multi-shot exposure and to numerical simulations showing good agreement. In the paper, the detailed information about the source, the spectroscopy system, the absorption spectra measurements and the results of the studies are presented and discussed.

Soft x-ray photoabsorption spectra of photoionized CH4and CO2plasmas

“…In addition the optimum operating backing pressures were determined by previous experience. More information regarding the timing and synchronization can be found in [30,31]. The optimum parameters for each gas are tabulated in table 1.…”

Spectral Investigation of Laser Plasma Sources for X-Ray Coherence Tomography

“…More details about the EUV/SXR LPP source and its optimization can be found in Ref. [4]. The target gas is supplied at 5 bar pressure and helium gas is supplied at 6 bar backing pressure.…”

Resonant soft X‐ray scattering in polymer science

“…In soft materials and polymers, carbon is an abundant atom, for which the core absorption edge (called the carbon-K absorption edge) is at ≈285 eV (the binding energy of the 1 s carbon electron) or ≈4.5 nm wavelength. Although there are several lab-scale sources of carbon K-edge photons, 15 and promise of more, [16][17][18] until now most of the work has come from monochromatic synchrotron light. 6,7,[19][20][21][22][23] The first polymer NEXAFS spectrum at the carbon edge was produced in 1981 24 and the technique has quickly developed for characterization of surface chemistry and orientation.…”