Coronary angiography using laser plasma sources: X-ray source efficiency and optimization of a bent crystal monochromator

A monochromator has been developed for coronary angiography, comprising a single bent crystal of silicon in Laue transmission geometry. K spectra of laser irradiated solid tin and tantalum (Z=50 and 73, respectively) targets were measured. The high resolution crystal spectrometer resolve the Sn and Ta Kα doublets, allowing in a proof-of-principle experiment the absolute Kα photon numbers emitted by the source to be determined. The Ta Kα yield is measured as a function of the laser pulse energy, allowing an assessment to be made of the suitability of such sources for medical applications.