Tunable, monochromatic x rays using the internal beam of a betatron

Tunable, monochromatic x rays from thin radiators mounted inside a betatron have been observed. Parametric x-ray radiation (PXR) was generated by 33-MeV electrons passing multiple times through three radiators: a 43-μm-thick Si crystal, a 400-μm-thick graphite crystal, or a 310-layered-pair (W and B4C, d=14.86 Å) multilayer. The pulse-height spectrum of the radiation (5 to 30 keV) was obtained and was tuned by rocking the crystal or multilayer relative to the electron-beam direction. The experimental results appear to follow theoretical predictions for PXR emission with some modification required for the curved trajectory of the electrons.