Towards fast transition radiation imaging detectors with CsI convertors

In this paper, the authors present a new X-ray imaging method with a potential application to ultrarelativistic particle identification by Transition Radiation detection. It is based on the conversion of the X-ray photons in a thin layer of CsI and the amplification of secondary emitted electrons in a low-pressure multistep avalanche electron multiplier. The obvious advantages of the solid X-ray convertor are the parallax-free imaging and the ultrafast response. The authors present the experimental results on the detector performance with X-rays of 6-60 keV and with relativistic electrons. They are accompanied by mathematical modeling and Monte Carlo simulations of transition Radiation Detectors based on this novel technique