Patented C-Series Low Energy X-Ray Windows

The Patented C-Series windows offer less attenuation (higher intrinsic efficiency) than the standard Be windows for X-ray energies below 1.5 keV (for elements below Al). The C windows are about a factor of 2 more efficient for Na K_a X-rays (at 1.04 keV) than the thinnest Be window (8 µm). With Be windows it is virtually impossible to measure elements below Na in the periodic table, and even Na and Mg are marginal. The Patented C-Series windows make it practical to measure light elements.

One should measure in vacuum to take full advantage of the Patented C-series windows. Attenuation in air can be more important than attenuation in the windows for low energies. For Na Ka X-rays at 1.04 keV the attenuation length in air is only 2.2 mm: an air path of 2.2 mm will attenuate these X-rays as much as a Be window. This not only reduces the sensitivity at Na, but path length variations become very important: an additional 0.2 mm of air changes the Na Ka intensity by 10%, making accurate analysis difficult.

Above 1.5 keV the Patented C-series windows offer slightly more attenuation (lower efficiency) than the Be windows. This difference is small for most elements. For example the C windows offer 10-15% lower efficiency than Be around 3 keV. For X-rays above 6 keV the efficiency for the two windows is nearly identical.

The Patented C-Series windows are made from silicon nitride and coated with aluminum. The characteristic X-rays of Al, Si, and N are all observed in the spectrum. All Amptek detectors contain aluminum (e.g. the multilayer collimator is coated with aluminum) so this interference is always present. The Si interference may be a disadvantage in some applications.

The C2 windows are not light-tight. They are intended only for use in a dark system. Operating a C2 detector in light will not damage the detector, but the photocurrent through the detector will make it impossible to detect X-rays. The C1 windows can be operated in normal ambient light.

Yes, the Patented C-Series windows will hold vacuum. The detector hybrid has a vacuum inside, so the Patented C-series windows usually hold 1 atmosphere of pressure. Used in a vacuum chamber, the pressure across the window is actually reduced.

One must be careful when using these detectors in vacuum systems. It is common for debris from samples or from handling to exist inside the chamber of an XRF system. When one begins to pump or breaks vacuum, the pieces of debris can fly around inside the chamber and penetrate C1 and C2 windows. Cleanliness is vital, but one must not touch the Patented C-series windows when cleaning the system.

While best practice has typically been to allow at least two minutes to vent from vacuum to atmosphere, and that you vent to dry nitrogen (preferable) or air which has passed through desiccants and filters, we have found that reducing turbulent airflow in the chamber during venting, and locating the vent such that it doesn’t allow particulate to impact the window is most useful.

Please contact us to discuss your application in more detail.

The standard C1 window is not He tight. There is a special order option for the C1 window to be He tight.

The C2 window is NOT He tight. Putting the C2 window in He will destroy the vacuum in the detector and void warranty.

Yes, the Patented C-Series windows are fine for high energies. Above roughly 6 keV, they offer essentially the same sensitivity as Be windows.

The C1 windows are very well suited to the ED-XRF of samples containing Na, Mg, and heavier elements, particularly when a dark environment is not possible (e.g. handheld and portable instruments).

The ideal application for the C2 windows is SEM-EDS, also known as EDX i.e. the excitation of characteristic X-rays by electrons in an SEM. Because these electrons have a short range in the sample, they excite the X-rays very close to the surface, yielding many X-rays from all the elements down to carbon. The high efficiency of these windows at the low energies makes these detectors very useful.

The C2 windows can certainly be used for ED-XRF from light elements, i.e. measuring characteristic X-rays produced by X-ray excitation. But the X-ray yield for light elements is low and their attenuation length in most samples is low. A powerful low energy X-ray source is required for ED-XRF of light elements.

These curves represent nominal material parameters and normal incidence. Manufacturing variations will occur, so some variation is expected. In many applications the beam of incident X-rays may not be at normal incidence. Even more commonly a range of angles are incident on the window. This will cause the path length to be longer, hence greater attenuation will occur. It is good practice to calibrate each system with known standards.