Transition radiation for the diagnosis of low-energy electron beams

Electron bombardment of metallic silver is known to produce ’’transition radiation,’’ predominantly at 300–450 nm wavelengths. In reported measurements at 15–500 eV impact energies, transition radiation was used to diagnose the shape and time dependence of an rf modulated electron beam. It is suggested that this is a superior target, as opposed to phosphors or gases normally used, to determine instrumental time response functions and electron beam imaging.