Status of the development of the imaging proportional counters for the Stellar X-Ray Polarimeter

Summary The Stellar X-Ray Polarimeter SXRP will be flown at the focus of the SODART X-ray telescope aboard the Russian satellite SPECTRUM-X-Gamma by the end of 1995. Four imaging proportional counters will detect photons diffracted by a graphite crystal (2.6 and 5.2 keV) and scattered from a lithium rod enclosed in a beryllium case (from 5 to 20 KeV). The counters are position-sensitive by the Wedge and Strip (WS) readout method. The gas mixture is 80% xenon, 10% argon and 10% methane. In this contribution we resume the results of the measurements performed on the engineering models of the counters. Position resolution of about 1.5 mm is attained with an energy resolution of about 25%. The pulse shape discrimination offers more than 98%⁶⁰Co events rejection, with at least 90% X-ray acceptance. Some improvements are foreseen for the flight units in terms of sensitivity and uniformity of response.     

Cyclops: A single beam 1.3 millimeter polarimeter

We present the design of a broad band, 1.3 mm polarimeter for astronomical observations and the results of first light observations at the Heinrich Hertz Telescope (HHT). The systematic polarization of the instrument plus telescope is 1.1%. The observed linear polarization of DR 21,P=1.65%±0.14% andθ=16°±2°, is consistent with previous measurements. Our 0.9% upper limit on the linear polarization of Cepheus A is the first 1.3 mm measurement reported. With Cyclops it is possible to map the magnetic fields in several of the brightest molecular cloud dust cores in the Milky Way. We comment on the expected performance of an achromatic Rexolite half-waveplate for λ=800μm to 1.3 mm.     

Spin-oriented projectile fragments: The first application tog-factor measurements

Ejectile nuclei in the fragmentation of intermediate-energy heavy-ion projectiles were found to be largely spin polarized. The observed polarization as a function of the outgoing momentum was nicely explained by a simple kinematical argument based on the participant-spectator model of projectile fragmentation. The measurements extended to cover several different targets, incident energies, exit channels, and emission angles revealed that substantial polarization shows up widely in projectile fragmentation reactions. Furthermore, this polarization exhibits an interesting behavior which may be interpreted as a manifestation of a gradual change in the deflection angle from positive to negative values as the energy increases and/or the target-Z decreases. The present polarization results also suggests various applications of spin polarized radioactive beams. As the first example of such an application, we present a recent result on theg-factor measurements on neutron-rich nuclei.     

The Planck milestone

Planck, a European Space Agency satellite to be launched in 2007, is dedicated to surveying the full sky at sub-millimetre and millimetre wavelength. The primary goal of the mission is the final mapping of the Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies (CMBA). With an angular resolution of 5 arcmin and a sensitivity of ΔT_CMB/T_CMB=2×10⁻⁶, the Planck mission will be about 1000 times more sensitive than COBE-DMR and at least 20 times more than WMAP. Planck has also very good capabilites for measurements of polarization, although it will not exhaust the information contained in the CMBA polarization pattern. Two instruments share the Planck focal plane; the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) covers the wavelength ranging from 300 μm to 3 mm by using 48 bolometers cooled to 100 mK. This instrument is realized by an international collaboration, led by the IAS at Orsay. The other part of the relevant electromagnetic spectrum is covered by the Low Frequency Instrument (LFI) using HEMT radiometers cooled at 18 K and realized by a consortium led by the CNR in Milano. The first part of this article presents expected results of Planck on CMBA, both in intensity and polarization. In a second part, the global design of the Planck mission will be presented. We describe in particular the implications of Planck scientific goals on the instruments design, and especially on HFI that is the most sensitive Planck instrument. To cite this article: F.R. Bouchet et al., C. R. Physique 4 (2003).     

Capabilities of the Gamma-400 Gamma-ray Telescope for Observation of Electrons and Positrons in the TeV Energy Range

The space-based GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope will measure the fluxes of gamma rays in the energy range from ∼20 MeV to several TeV and cosmic-ray electrons and positrons in the energy range from several GeV to several TeV to investigate the origin of gamma-ray sources, sources and propagation of the Galactic cosmic rays and signatures of dark matter. The instrument consists of an anticoincidence system, a converter-tracker (thickness one radiation length, 1 X₀), a time-of-flight system, an imaging calorimeter (2 X₀) with tracker, a top shower scintillator detector, an electromagnetic calorimeter from CsI(Tl) crystals (16 X₀) with four lateral scintillation detectors and a bottom shower scintillator detector. In this paper, the capability of the GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope for electron and positron measurements is analyzed. The bulk of cosmic rays are protons, whereas the contribution of the leptonic component to the total flux is ∼10⁻³ at high energy. The special methods for Monte Carlo simulations are proposed to distinguish electrons and positrons from proton background in the GAMMA-400 gamma-ray telescope. The contribution to the proton rejection from each detector system of the instrument is studied separately. The use of the combined information from all detectors allows us to reach a proton rejection of up to ∼1 × 10⁴.

     

Hard X-ray compton polarimetry with the PENGUIN-M instrument in the spaceborne experiment CORONAS-PHOTON

We describe the main parameters of the PENGUIN-MD detector unit of the PENGUIN-M instrument designed to measure the degree of linear polarization of X-ray radiation from solar flares in the energy range 20–150 keV and the X-ray spectra of solar flares in the energy range 2–500 keV. The method for measuring the X-ray polarization employed in the PENGUIN-MD unit is based on registration of coincidences in an active scatterer and scattered-radiation detectors. This method makes it possible to substantially reduce the background and to increase the sensitivity and reliability of the measurements.     

A large area gamma-ray imaging telescope system

We describe a large area Gamma-Ray Imaging Telescope System (GRITS), which will have the characteristics necessary for following up on the results from the Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO) for energies >200 MeV. The detection technique is based on the measurement of the imaged light rings resulting from conversion of the incident gamma ray into an electron-positron pair which then produces the Cherenkov light in a large gas-filled pressure vessel. The instrument will be a pointed telescope for performing detailed studies of sources including improvement of positions, measurement of short term time variability, investigation of candidate sources searching for linear polarization and mapping of galactic structure.     

Steady-State and Time-Resolved Fluorescence Polarization Behavior of Acenaphthene

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence polarization studies have been carried out on acenaphthene (ACE) in low-temperature glass solutions and at room temperature. In the low-temperature glass the fluorescence polarization values vary considerably with both emission and excitation wavelength. There is a time dependence (on the nanosecond time scale) of the fluorescence anisotropy, r(t), at 77 K, which has a strong dependence upon the excitation and emission wavelengths. Under these conditions, the time-dependent decay of the anisotropy is not attributable to chromophoric motion. The observations are consistent with emission from two closely lying and interconverting excited states. Rate constants for the photophysical processes involved have been determined by fitting the data using a model proposed by Fleming et. al. The results are discussed with particular reference to the care required in using dynamic fluorescence polarization measurements to determine energy transfer rates in systems containing this chromophore.     

Depth profiling of dopants implanted in Si using the synchrotron radiation based high‐resolution grazing emission technique

We report on the surface‐sensitive grazing emission X‐ray fluorescence technique combined with synchrotron radiation excitation and high‐resolution detection to realize depth‐profile measurements of Al‐implanted Si wafers. The principles of grazing emission measurements as well as the benefits offered by synchrotron sources and wavelength‐dispersive detection setups are presented. It is shown that the depth distribution of implanted ions can be extracted from the dependence of the X‐ray fluorescence intensity on the grazing emission angle with nanometer‐scale precision provided that an analytical function describing the shape of the depth distribution is assumed beforehand. If no a priori assumption is made, except a bell shaped form for the dopant distribution, the profile derived from the measured angular distribution is found to reproduce quite satisfactorily the depth distribution of the implanted ions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical study of the effects of scatterer sizes and distributions on multiple backscattered intensity patterns of polarized light

We investigate numerically the effects of scatterer sizes on backscattered polarization patterns using the third-order scattering model developed. The calculated results show that both parallel and cross polarization patterns from water suspensions of polystyrene spheres have four-lobe structures of the azimuth dependence of intensities. Particularly, the parallel polarization pattern is sensitive to scatterer sizes, exhibiting good agreement with prior experimental measurements. Furthermore, the polarization patterns from the dysplastic and normal cells with different size distribution widths are calculated and analyzed. The results show that the polarization patterns of dysplastic and normal cells have distinct differences, which might be used for identification of the morphological structure changes of cancer, dysplasia, and regeneration cells.     

Application of radiative electron capture for the diagnostics of spin-polarized ion beams at storage rings

It is proposed to apply the radiative electron capture into high-Z projectiles as a probe process for measuring the spin polarization of the hydrogenlike ions at storage rings. We argue that such polarization measurements are possible since the linear polarization of emitted x-ray photons is greatly sensitive to the spin states of incoming ions with nuclear spin I > 1/2. In particular, for K-shell electron capture into the hydrogenlike ions, the linear polarization of light as measured out of the reaction plane is found to be proportional to the degree of ion polarization. Detailed computations for the dependence of the photon polarization on the ion spin states and projectile energies are carried out for the electron recombination into hydrogenlike Bi 82+ ions.     

Oxidation states of Fe in LaNi1−x Fe x O3

We discuss a new method of producing spin-polarized radioactive nuclear probes which capitalizes characteristic features of projectile fragmentation reaction at intermediate energies. Experimental results are given for the behavior of polarization as a function of the fragment momentum, target mass number, and beam energy. As an application of this method, we also report on results ofg-factor measurements for several neutron-rich nuclei. A full account of theg-factor measurement will be presented elsewhere.     

A critical analysis of the experimental L‐shell Coster–Kronig and fluorescence yields data

A critical analysis of the methods used to determine the L‐shell Coster–Kronig and fluorescence yield data are given. The collected data sets have a large scatter, indicating methodological issues. The Kα‐L coincidence technique and the synchrotron ionization methods are analyzed in detail, and it is demonstrated that both methods have unrecognized systematic errors. It is emphasized that the synchrotron measurements clearly show deviations from the exclusively used exponential form of the energy dependence of the photoionization cross‐section. Thus, the far‐range extrapolation introduces an error, which magnitude is difficult to assess. Comment on the use of polarization‐sensitive devices to detect polarized X‐ray is offered. New strategies are recommended for the measurement of these parameters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neutron emission from KSTAR Ohmically heated plasmas

An un-calibrated sensitive ³He detector was used to monitor the KSTAR neutron rate during Ohmically heated discharges. Neutrons were detected for every shot. If the neutrons were from D-D reactions then there should be a dependence on the ion temperature. We obtained ion temperature, electron density, Ohmic heating input power measurements, etc. from standard diagnostics. The study shows no observable dependence on the Ohmic power, ion temperature, or calculated source strength. It appears that the neutrons are from sources other than D-D reactions. The most probable source is high-energy runaway electrons.     

X-ray linear dichroism dependence on ferroelectric polarization

X-ray absorption spectroscopy and photoemission electron microscopy are techniques commonly used to determine the magnetic properties of thin films, crystals, and heterostructures. Recently, these methods have been used in the study of magnetoelectrics and multiferroics. The analysis of such materials has been compromised by the presence of multiple order parameters and the lack of information on how to separate these coupled properties. In this work, we shed light on the manifestation of dichroism from ferroelectric polarization and atomic structure using photoemission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Linear dichroism arising from the ferroelectric order in the PbZr0:2Ti0:8O3 thin films was studied as a function of incident x-ray polarization and geometry to unambiguously determine the angular dependence of the ferroelectric contribution to the dichroism. These measurements allow us to examine the contribution of surface charges and ferroelectric polarization as potential mechanisms for linear dichroism. The x-ray linear dichroism from ferroelectric order revealed an angular dependence based on the angle between the ferroelectric polarization direction and the x-ray polarization axis, allowing a formula for linear dichroism in ferroelectric samples to be defined.     

Temperature-induced changes in the exciting-wavelength dependence of the polarization of the fluorescence of phthalimide solutions

Polarization of the fluorescence of alcohol and glycerine solutions of phthalimides was studied over a wide temperature range as a function of the wavelength of the exciting light. The maximum polarization reaches nearly 50% at sufficiently low temperatures and with long-wave excitation. There is a discussion of the possible sensitivity of the P = f(v _exc) dependence to overlap of the first and second absorption bands and to the duration of the excitation at various exciting wavelengths.Translated from Izvestiya VUZ. Fizika, No. 3, pp. 76–81, March, 1970.In conclusion the authors thank R. Bauer for the opportunity to carry out the polarization measurements, and V. V. Zelinskii and I. I. Reznikova for furnishing the phthalimides.     

强场X射线激光物理

相干X光,特别是X射线自由电子激光技术的发展提供了一种新的产生超强光场的途径.由于其较高的光子能量、高峰值功率密度与超短的脉冲长度,有望将强场激光物理从可见光波段推进到X光波段.目前,基于X射线的非线性原子分子物理已取得了初步进展,随着X射线光强的提升,相互作用将进入相对论物理、强场量子电动力学(quantum electrodynamics,QED)物理等领域,为激光驱动加速与辐射、QED真空、暗物质的产生与探测等带来新的科学发现机会.本文对强场X射线激光在固体中的尾场加速、真空极化、轴子的产生与探测等方面进行介绍,旨在阐明X射线波段强场物理在若干基础前沿与关键应用方面的独特优势,并对未来的发展方向进行展望.     

Polarization effects in elastic electron deuteron scattering

The vector and tensor polarization of the deuteron after scattering and the dependence of the cross section on the polarization before scattering are given for elastic electron deuteron scattering treating the deuteron as a spin 1 elementary particle characterized by three electromagnetic formfactors and describing the interaction by the first Born approximation. By using polarization measurements a separation of the charge and quadrupole formfactors may be accomplished, and thus the assumptions may be tested, which are necessary for the extraction of the isoscalar nucleon formfactors from the deuteron formfactors.     

Resonant diffraction in stishovite near the <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis> absorption edge of silicon

The X-ray resonant diffraction in a stishovite crystal near the K absorption edge of silicon (E _K = 1839 eV) is studied theoretically. For such a long wavelength, the only possible Bragg reflection is the 100 reflection, which is forbidden by the space group of the crystal. It can be excited solely due to anisotropy of the X-ray scattering amplitude. The crystal symmetry is used to determine the polarization and azimuthal dependence of the reflection intensity. Since this reflection is single, it can be detected upon diffraction from a powder, which substantially widens the possibilities of investigations. The numerical calculations of the energy dependences of the forbidden reflection intensity and the absorption coefficient demonstrate that the dipole-quadrupole, quadrupole-quadrupole, and dipole-octupole contributions to the resonant diffraction and absorption are small and that the dipole-dipole contribution is the most important one.     

Molecular orientation analysis of organic thin films by z‐polarization Raman microscope

Polarization‐dependent Raman microscopy is a powerful technique to perform both structural and chemical analyses with submicron spatial resolution. In conventional Raman microscopy, the polarization measurements are limited only in the direction parallel to the sample plane. In this work, we overcome the limit of conventional measurements by controlling the incident polarization by a spatially modulated waveplate. In this method, the polarization perpendicular to the sample surface (z‐polarization) can be detected together with the parallel polarization (xy‐polarization). Because of this unique polarization control, our Raman microscope has the ability to image the molecular orientation, together with the molecular analysis. Here, we have investigated thin films of pentacene molecules that are widely studied as an organic semiconductor material. The orientations of pentacene molecules are imaged with a spatial resolution of 300 nm. Our results clearly indicate that the lamellar grains show the lower tilt angles compared to the neighboring islands, which has not been proved in conventional methods. The substrate effects and the thickness dependence of the film are also studied. These results provide knowledge about the relationship between the devise performance and the film structures, which is indispensable for future device exploitations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.