Proton-induced characteristic x-rays: a versatile source of ultrasoft x-rays for biological and biochemical investigations.

Very low energy ( ultrasoft ) x-rays of 0.3-5 keV have provided a unique tool for investigation of mechanisms of radiation action, especially with respect to the energy and spatial properties of critical radiation damage in mammalian cells. Experimental investigations to date have been partially limited by the availability and characteristics of suitable ultrasoft x-ray sources. The suitability of small electrostatic proton accelerators, such as exist in many laboratories, have been investigated as a means of producing a secondary beam of ultrasoft x-rays suitable for irradiation of biological and biochemical systems. Results are presented on the physical characteristic of carbon K (0.28 keV) and aluminium K (1.5 keV) ultrasoft x-ray beams produced by bombardment of solid targets of carbon and aluminium with protons of energies up to 750 kV and currents up to 500 microA. These characteristics are compared with those of a cold cathode discharge ultrasoft x-ray tube previously used for mammalian cell investigations. It is seen that the proton accelerator produces much more versatile beams of characteristic ultrasoft x-rays which greatly extend the scope for future experiments on mammalian cells, micro-organisms and biochemical systems. Nevertheless there are situations in which the cold-cathode discharge tube will remain the source of choice and there are other situations, requiring for example energies between characteristic lines, where the greatly more complex synchrotron radiation sources are required.