X-ray calibration of RAR 2490 film for application to laser plasma experiments

Area of Science:

• Radiological Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate X-ray film calibration is crucial for quantitative imaging.
• Kodak RAR 2490 film is a common choice for X-ray applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform a comprehensive sensitometric calibration of Kodak RAR 2490 film.
• To determine the film's response across a wide range of X-ray photon energies.
• To analyze the characteristic curves and identify solarization effects.

Main Methods:

• X-ray sensitometric calibration was conducted.
• Photon energies ranged from 0.28 to 8.04 keV.
• Characteristic curves (optical density vs. exposure) were analyzed and fitted to an analytic function.

Main Results:

• The characteristic curves were well-described by a two-parameter analytic function: log10(10^D - 1) = A log10(H) + B.
• Solarization was observed at 1.49 keV with an exposure threshold of 2 x 10^3 photons/μm².
• The film's performance was compared to other available films.

Conclusions:

• The analytic function provides a robust model for Kodak RAR 2490 film's sensitometric response.
• Understanding solarization is critical for accurate exposure determination in specific X-ray energy ranges.
• This calibration data aids in selecting appropriate films for various X-ray imaging tasks.