Characterization of the Point Spread Function for the x-ray pinhole cameras at ALBA Synchrotron

Abstract

The ALBA facility is a Synchrotron Light Source that accelerates electrons up to 3 GeV to produce synchrotron radiation for scienti c experiments. Transverse size measurements of the electron beam are carried out by imaging with an x-ray pinhole camera, whose spatial resolution is described by the Point Spread Function (PSF). The PSF changes slightly the beam image and determines the minimum beam size measurable, therefore its value is required for precise beam size measurements. This report calculates and compares the PSF analytically, experimentally and by numerical simulations, showing that the results obtained by the three methods are consistent. ALBA is equipped with a pinhole since 2011, and a new one is under design with a better resolution. Finally, this report also calculates the heat load received at the main pinhole elements to evaluate the need of cooling systems.