Happy News!!
Right as we walked in Alex said he had 'happy news' for us. He had needed to use our detector to compare some other data to and our detector had broken. This was the reason why we were having so many problems. We had examined the detector using a Fe-55 sample. The temperature of the detector was reading to be around 230K when it was sitting at room temperature and should have been somewhere around 220K. Alex took our detector and was going to have AMPtek fix the problem. After talking to Zewu he gave us a XR-100CR Si x-ray detector. This was an analog detector unlike the digital detector we were using before. This meant it had to be hooked up differently and didn't have a USB to plug into the computer. Instead it had to be hooked up to the middle tower under where the stages were hooked up and the tv and run using a different software. The new detector was then calibrated with Fe-55 like before. After we scanned at full power without the pin hole and with the Cu filter to look for the Cu K alpha peak around 140 channel. We scanned at a lesser power in x and set to zero. We ran into some problems trying to find the spot when scanning in y and couldn't see the spot. We ended up having more alignment issues. However, we didn't realize this until after we had already attempted taking some spot size measurements. This makes sense because our spot sizes were fairly large.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
June 24th- Day 6
Spot on!
With the camera anyways. We put the camera in place and almost instantly were able to see the image we were looking for. We then hooked up the detector and were able to find the spot rather quickly. That's when things started taking a turn for the worse. One of the actuators stops working for us and it had to be replaced. We aligned the old actuator with the new one to minimize the scanning that would have to be done to align everything later on for finding the spot again. At first Alex gave us a Ni filter to use but then decided it would be more efficient to use a Cu filter instead. We then scanned in x, set the ROI values and scanned in y of the detector. Then to account for the backlash when scanning the source in x had to drag the cursor to the peak > set to start > go to start > set to zero > move the stage minus about 200 microns > go home. Then we scanned the source in y and did the same procedure for the backlash. After we put the knife edge back on and started scanning for the spot. After each scan in x and y of the detector we set to zero. Then we scanned y and x of the source and followed the backlash procedure. After that was all set we started scanning for the spot size. The vertical spot size should change more drastically according to the results obtained by XOS that we were using as a reference. Before we could get very far... another actuator decided it wasn't going to move as far as it could and we had reached a 'hard limit.'
With the camera anyways. We put the camera in place and almost instantly were able to see the image we were looking for. We then hooked up the detector and were able to find the spot rather quickly. That's when things started taking a turn for the worse. One of the actuators stops working for us and it had to be replaced. We aligned the old actuator with the new one to minimize the scanning that would have to be done to align everything later on for finding the spot again. At first Alex gave us a Ni filter to use but then decided it would be more efficient to use a Cu filter instead. We then scanned in x, set the ROI values and scanned in y of the detector. Then to account for the backlash when scanning the source in x had to drag the cursor to the peak > set to start > go to start > set to zero > move the stage minus about 200 microns > go home. Then we scanned the source in y and did the same procedure for the backlash. After we put the knife edge back on and started scanning for the spot. After each scan in x and y of the detector we set to zero. Then we scanned y and x of the source and followed the backlash procedure. After that was all set we started scanning for the spot size. The vertical spot size should change more drastically according to the results obtained by XOS that we were using as a reference. Before we could get very far... another actuator decided it wasn't going to move as far as it could and we had reached a 'hard limit.'
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
June 23rd- Day 5
Back to square one.
When we got there we removed the detector and set up the camera again. Instantly, we got the image we were looking for and set the detector back up. At first we scanned the optic without the knife edge giving us a larger surface area to locate the spot. Still nothing. Alex concluded that there must have been communication issues between the computer and the detector. Alex worked his magic and tried a few different things. We tried calibrated the detector using an Fe-55 isotope. We switch into PHA mode and hit acquire on and looked for the peak. After reading the channel of the main peak the value and known energy of Mn K alpha were entered. The energy of Mn K alpha was used because the Fe-55 isotope decays to that energy. Next the ROI was found by switching to energy > spectrum > and look for the desired peak. In this case we were looking for the K alpha peak not the K beta one. Select the ROI with the red lines and hit 'set ROI'. Then the pin hole was taken off the detector to maximize the area of the detector. We scanned x and y and both were unsuccessful. Alex suggested calculating the difference in Bragg angles between Cu K alpha and Cu K beta. Using the Bragg equation we found the difference in angles to be 1.37 degrees which meant we had to move the detector 0.4mm in the negative x direction. After looking at the set up, we realized that we had not taken into account the distance from the anode to the outside of the x-ray source. The set up had to be realigned, yet again, but once that was done we were ready to go... for tomorrow.
When we got there we removed the detector and set up the camera again. Instantly, we got the image we were looking for and set the detector back up. At first we scanned the optic without the knife edge giving us a larger surface area to locate the spot. Still nothing. Alex concluded that there must have been communication issues between the computer and the detector. Alex worked his magic and tried a few different things. We tried calibrated the detector using an Fe-55 isotope. We switch into PHA mode and hit acquire on and looked for the peak. After reading the channel of the main peak the value and known energy of Mn K alpha were entered. The energy of Mn K alpha was used because the Fe-55 isotope decays to that energy. Next the ROI was found by switching to energy > spectrum > and look for the desired peak. In this case we were looking for the K alpha peak not the K beta one. Select the ROI with the red lines and hit 'set ROI'. Then the pin hole was taken off the detector to maximize the area of the detector. We scanned x and y and both were unsuccessful. Alex suggested calculating the difference in Bragg angles between Cu K alpha and Cu K beta. Using the Bragg equation we found the difference in angles to be 1.37 degrees which meant we had to move the detector 0.4mm in the negative x direction. After looking at the set up, we realized that we had not taken into account the distance from the anode to the outside of the x-ray source. The set up had to be realigned, yet again, but once that was done we were ready to go... for tomorrow.
Monday, June 20, 2011
June 22st- Day 4
Testing... 1... 2... 3...
We got badges and keys to the place. We're official now! Alex started things off by having us watch a safety video about the ionizing radiation we would be dealing with and the safety precautions we would have to take. We made sure everything was grounded and in place. Then it was on to the testing. We turned on the camera and... wait for it... couldn't see anything. Big surprise. We started moving the x of the source using the green '+' and '-' buttons and found a little glimpse of the crystal fairly quickly. The tricky part was trying to make the reflection of the rays off the optic a big, bright, straight, vertical line in the center of the camera. There was a lot of guessing and trying different things moving the various axis. After struggling for a while Alex came to help us. After we adjusted the height of the camera and source it turns out we weren't too far off. We knew we achieved what we were looking for when we moved x and the whole image disappeared at once. This meant the source and the optic were aligned correctly. Just trying to find the image took most of the day. Our next task was to hook up and align the detector. After that job was completed we scanned x to find the spot and then scanned x and y of the detector trying to see the peak of the Cu K alpha. At first we saw the spectrum then for whatever reason we lost the spot. Alex tried putting an orange paper(?) over the detector that would leave a mark where the spot hit it. We couldn't see anything. Alex suggested changing the set up and we tried it without any luck. By that time it was time to go home.
We got badges and keys to the place. We're official now! Alex started things off by having us watch a safety video about the ionizing radiation we would be dealing with and the safety precautions we would have to take. We made sure everything was grounded and in place. Then it was on to the testing. We turned on the camera and... wait for it... couldn't see anything. Big surprise. We started moving the x of the source using the green '+' and '-' buttons and found a little glimpse of the crystal fairly quickly. The tricky part was trying to make the reflection of the rays off the optic a big, bright, straight, vertical line in the center of the camera. There was a lot of guessing and trying different things moving the various axis. After struggling for a while Alex came to help us. After we adjusted the height of the camera and source it turns out we weren't too far off. We knew we achieved what we were looking for when we moved x and the whole image disappeared at once. This meant the source and the optic were aligned correctly. Just trying to find the image took most of the day. Our next task was to hook up and align the detector. After that job was completed we scanned x to find the spot and then scanned x and y of the detector trying to see the peak of the Cu K alpha. At first we saw the spectrum then for whatever reason we lost the spot. Alex tried putting an orange paper(?) over the detector that would leave a mark where the spot hit it. We couldn't see anything. Alex suggested changing the set up and we tried it without any luck. By that time it was time to go home.
Friday, June 17, 2011
June 17th- Day 3
Ready, set, go!
This time it was all on us. Alex got us our own table to work at, all the parts and pieces we needed and told us to start building. We started with stacking and securing the stages on top of each other to create the 3 different axis we would need for both the source and the detector. Some assembling was easier than others, but by lunch time we had build our set up and roughly aligned it all. After a nice lunch at Paneras we hooked up all the equipment to the computer and power sources. We tested the camera and it worked! We could see the light coming through so at least it's ready for action. We'll have to wait until next time to see how well aligned our crystal is (which would be absolutely incredible)... or not at all (which is probably the case).
This time it was all on us. Alex got us our own table to work at, all the parts and pieces we needed and told us to start building. We started with stacking and securing the stages on top of each other to create the 3 different axis we would need for both the source and the detector. Some assembling was easier than others, but by lunch time we had build our set up and roughly aligned it all. After a nice lunch at Paneras we hooked up all the equipment to the computer and power sources. We tested the camera and it worked! We could see the light coming through so at least it's ready for action. We'll have to wait until next time to see how well aligned our crystal is (which would be absolutely incredible)... or not at all (which is probably the case).
June 14th- Day 2
Training.
After our fist meeting, Zewu had given us data and figures for the optic so we knew what we would be dealing with. We went to XOS bright and early to be trained on how to use all their high-tech equipment. Alex had already set up a model system for us to play around with. He explained the set up and showed us what to do. Shortly after, we were let loose and told to minimize the spot size. Several scans later, we were off, but still fairly close to the values the company had achieved.
After our fist meeting, Zewu had given us data and figures for the optic so we knew what we would be dealing with. We went to XOS bright and early to be trained on how to use all their high-tech equipment. Alex had already set up a model system for us to play around with. He explained the set up and showed us what to do. Shortly after, we were let loose and told to minimize the spot size. Several scans later, we were off, but still fairly close to the values the company had achieved.
June 9th- Day 1
The first day of the rest of our lives... well summer anyways.
Summer research with Dr. McColgan began June 6, 2011. Three days and a lot of reading later we were introduced to Zewu Chen, the rocket scientist behind all the magic at X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc., (XOS). After a fairly brief meeting with Zewu and Alex, the guy who would later be assisting us, we left with a few things (solid angle, knife edge scan) to look up before we would return.
Summer research with Dr. McColgan began June 6, 2011. Three days and a lot of reading later we were introduced to Zewu Chen, the rocket scientist behind all the magic at X-Ray Optical Systems, Inc., (XOS). After a fairly brief meeting with Zewu and Alex, the guy who would later be assisting us, we left with a few things (solid angle, knife edge scan) to look up before we would return.
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