This page describes the HRC Calibration Facility - the physical layout and the specialized equipment available for the calibration of x-ray detectors and detector components.

1. When you don't know what you're doing, do it neatly.
2. First draw your curves, then plot the data.
3. Experience is directly proportional to the equipment ruined.
4. Experiments must be reproducible; they should all fail the same way.
5. A record of data is essential; it indicates that you have been working.
6. In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.
7. Do not believe in miracles; rely on them.
8. Teamwork is essential in the lab; it allows you to blame someone else.

Layout of the Facility

Calibration Laboratory Equipment

X-ray Sources

• Manson Multianode (6) X-ray Generator Max Bias: 10 kV
• Henke Fluorescent Target X-ray Source Max Bias: 25 kV
• Microfocus X-ray Generator Max Bias: 25 kV
• Leybold-Heraeus Microfocus X-ray Generator - Max Bias: 25 kV
• Isotope Products X-kit - Cm-244 fluoresced targets
• Radioisotopes - Fe55, Cd109, Ba133, Co57



Gamma-ray Sources

• Radioisotopes - Co60, Co57, Cd109, Ba133, Na22, Am241



UV and EUV Light Sources

• Pen-ray Hg Gas Discharge Lamp (1849 and 2537 Angstroms)
• McPherson Hollow Cathode Discharge Lamp (lines of He, H, Ne, Ar, CO, O, N, Kr)
• Xenon Discharge Lamp (1470 Angstroms)



Ion Source

• Ion Source and Lens - 50 eV to 5 keV



High energy electron source

• Bi207 electron conversion source



X-ray and Gamma Ray Detectors

• Manson flow proportional counter (Monitor)
• Manson flow proportional counter (Beam Normalization Detector)
• MCP with QUANTAR Resistive Anode Encoder (RAE) readout
• NaI (well and cylindical) Scintillation Detectors
• Sealed Proportional Counter (Xe-CO2)



Alpha Particle Detector

• Canberra Partially Depleted PIPS (Passivated Implanted Planar Silicon) Detector



UV and EUV Detectors

• UV photodiode (> 1800 Angstrom)
• FUV Photomultiplier (CsTe pc, MgF2 window; >1150 Angstroms)
• MCP with QUANTAR RAE readout
• NIST Calibrated Windowless FUV Photodiode (50 - 1216 Angstroms)
• NIST Calibrated Windowed Photodiode (1164 - 2537 Angstroms)



Monochromators

• "Poor Man's Monochromator" (LETG and slit system; 0.1 keV - 3 keV)
• McPherson 1 meter Grazing Incidence Monochromator (10 - 3100 Angstrom)



Mechanical Manipulators

• Vacuum Stages - 6 translations and 3 rotations
• Linear positioner for transmission grating
• "Jaws", 4 independently controlled, micropositioned beam occulters



Optical Elements

• X-ray resolution masks
• X-ray pinholes
• X-ray pinhole arrays
• UV neutral density filters (meshes)



Vacuum Facilities

• 5 meter vacuum pipe w or w/o 30 in. diam. 50 in. long vacuum chamber
• 5 meter vacuum pipe
• Bell jar facility



Gas System for Flow Proportional Counters

• Gas control system, P-10 and Methane counter gases
• SETRA pressure transducers and Hg manometers



Electronics

• QUANTAR Position Analyzer (for RAE MCP readout)
• Keithley Model 643 Electrometer (for NIST photodiodes)
• Various NIM modules (counters, amplifiers, timers, ratemeters, pulsers, programmable HV power supplies)
• High voltage DC power supplies
• Canberra (standalone) MCA
• ORTEC Multichannel Buffer (four inputs) with PC interface
• Canberra MCA PC card



Data Acquisition and Control and Data Archiving

• SUN workstation based Data Acquisition and Real-Time Display System for flight-type HRC detectors; 78 Gigabyte capacity worm optical disk archiving system
• PC for mechanical stage control, monochromator control, prop. ctr. data acquisition, stability test control and data acquisition
• PC for HV bias control
• PC for environment monitoring (temperature and humidity); MCP rate, counter gas pressure, counter temperature, counter event rate
• PC for controlling gas system and MCA data acquisition



Clean Room Facilities

• Class 100 Clean Room for assembling and inspecting MCPs (approx. 200 sq. ft.)
• Laminar flow bench
• GN2 (boil-off from LN2) for storage and backfilling vacuum systems
• Inspection microscopes with frame grabber and image analysis software (Global Lab Image); calibrated scales
• Wire bonder
• Storage for MCPs, filters, etc.
• Glove box fitted with GN2 flow



Photocathode Deposition Facility - MCP Coating

MCP Stability Test Facility

• Long term photocathode stability test
• Long term thermal stability test



Optical Alignment Equipment

• optical bench
• helium-neon laser
• alignment flat



Specialty Gases




Radiation Shielding

• low internal radioactivity lead bricks