Transition radiation from lithium foils

Abstract The yield of transition radiation is expected to be higher for a low- Z material because of low absorption. Yields of transition radiation from lithium foils have been measured using multiwire proportional chambers and using a thin NaI counter in a beam of electrons and pions from 0.5 to 3.5 GeV/ c . The transition radiator consisted of 1000 foils of 2 mil lithium spaced at 20 mils. Results from a lithium radiator are compared with those of Mylar-foil radiators, and the advantages of lithium radiators in applications are discussed.