A high-resolution transmission-type x-ray spectrometer designed for observation of the K alpha transitions of highly charged high-Z ion

High-resolution reflection-type crystal spectrometers have been used for x-ray energies up to 13 keV, e.g., the K-shell radiation of heliumlike Kr. In order to extend crystal spectrometer measurements to higher energy x rays from higher-Z elements, we employ the crystal in transmission. The geometry we use is known as DuMond geometry. Using such a transmission-type crystal x-ray spectrometer, we have measured the K-shell radiation of various highly charged high-Z ions. In particular, we present a measurement of the 1s2p P-1(1) --> 1s(2) S-1(0) transition in heliumlike xenon, Xe52+. For this transition, we measure a linewidth of 34 eV. which demonstrates that the resolving power we achieved with the new spectrometer is on the order of 1000. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.