Transition Radiation as a Secondary Standard Source in the VUV

The optical radiation caused by electron bombardment of metallic surfaces was tested for its use as a secondary standard source in the VUV. Aluminum of high purity was found to be a suitable target material. The reproducibility of the radiation is of the order of 4% to 2% for 0.11 < lambda < 0.15 microm and 0.15 < lambda < 0.27 microm, respectively. In the spectral region 0.17 microm to 0.27 microm, the source was calibrated absolutely by comparison with a deuterium lamp of known absolute intensity.