Design consideration for the X-ray Cerenkov experiment

Abstract

The feasibility of measuring Cerenkov radiation in the X-ray region was investigated. It is found that the experimental measurement of X-ray Cerenkov radiation is possible for the carbon K (283.84 eV), aluminum L1 (87.01 eV) and L2,3 (72.78 eV) absorption edges. Measurement in the aluminum K (1559.9 eV) absorption edge region was found to be not possible since the real part of the index of refraction did not exceed unity. The relative power from Cerenkov radiation was calculated for the three possible cases and count rate estimates were given. The experimental apparatus for the measurement of X-ray Cerenkov radiation was redesigned to allow measurement of the carbon K edge and aluminum L1 edge. An experiment was attempted, but not completed due to the failure of a necessary preamplifier for a proportional counter. New design considerations were presented and incorporated changes to avoid the experimental shortcomings of previous measurements