A simple apparatus for determining column density and absolute photoabsorption cross sections

This article presents a simple measuring apparatus that is capable of measuring column density and absolute photoabsorption cross sections. The apparatus includes a simple high-temperature heatpipe furnace, an MKS Instruments Baratron, a hydrogen discharge lamp, and an optical detecting system. The heatpipe furnace provides an absorbing medium with a steady total pressure in a closed system so that the column density can be obtained using the ideal gas relation. The apparatus is designed for a working temperature range below 1000 K and a pressure range up to 10 Torr. Encountered experimental difficulties and their found solutions will be discussed in detail. In this work, the absolute photoabsorption cross section of Mg is measured near the 3s threshold using this apparatus. The absolute photoabsorption cross section result at the 3s threshold, which is 2.1 ± 0.3 Mb, is in good agreement with hook method data (2.36 Mb).