Characterization of a high resolution transmission grating

Three 5000 lines/mm gold transmission gratings have been tested with the ra diation from the Super-ACO synchrotron in the range 250 eV < E < 850 eV. Ty pical results for the spectral dependence of the grating efficiency at diff erent diffraction orders are presented. This grating theoretically built to have no second order exhibits second order as high as 15-20% of first orde r. The very thin 5000 L/mm gratings are supported by a larger grid which pe rturbs the recorded data by separating each order in three peaks. Fraunhofe r diffraction of the support grid has been modelled and can explain this ef fect. The high resolution gratings were used to measure the harmonics of th e beamline monochromator grating (550 L/mm) and to measure the emission and absorption of laser-produced plasmas in the XUV range. (C) 2000 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.