High-dynamic-range transmission-mode detection of synchrotron radiation using X-ray excited optical luminescence in diamond

Abstract

We demonstrate enhancement of X-ray excited optical luminescence in a 100-micron-thick diamond plate by introduction of defect states via electron beam irradiation and subsequent high-temperature annealing. The resulting X-ray transmission-mode scintillator features a linear response to incident photon flux in the range of 7.6$\times$10${}^8$ to 1.26$\times 10^{12}$ photons/s/mm${}^2$ for hard X-rays (15.9 keV) using exposure times from 0.01 to 5 s. These characteristics enable a real-time transmission-mode imaging of X-ray photon flux density without disruption of X-ray instrument operation.