Dispersive characteristics of diamond in the range of hard x-ray waves

Dispersive properties of natural diamonds were studied for the first time i n a range of x-ray wavelengths of 0.03-0.2 nm. The dispersion element repre sented an analog of a rectangular prism. A collimated beam of polychromatic radiation was directed onto the refracting face from inside under a small glancing angle (<<pi /2). The radiation was introduced into the prism throu gh a side face oriented perpendicularly to the axis of the incident beam. I n the range of energies near 8 keV, a resolution of 106 eV was achieved, wh ich is about twice as good as the corresponding parameter for semiconductor detectors. Calculations show that under ideal conditions the limiting reso lution for a diamond prism with a single refracting face can be reduced to 36-40 eV. This makes it possible to create a new type of analytical devices -dispersion x-ray spectrometers for the investigation of rapid processes in volving generation and absorption of x-ray radiation. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/ Interperiodica".