An X-ray spectroscopy system and its application to the laser-Compton scattering experiments

One of the main challenges for the laser-Compton scattering (LCS) experiments with the oblique configuration at the Linac of SINAP is the low signal to noise (S/N) ratio due to the low intensity of LCS signals. X-ray spectroscopy system mainly consisting of an X-ray Si(Li) detector, electronics, and LabVIEW-based data acquisition has been developed for the low S/N ratio experiments. Spectral characteristics of such a system (i.e., energy and time resolutions, data acquisition efficiency, and system instability) have been determined by the 55Fe, 241Am, and 238Pu radioactive sources. In order to extract the LCS X-ray spectrum, several methods for the enhancement of the S/N ratio have been achieved and data have been taken alternatively with laser pulse on and off. Thanks to these methods the S/N ratios have been optimized. Finally, the generated LCS X-ray spectrum has been achieved through the subtraction of the on/off laser accumulated spectra.