Abstract:
An x-ray or neutron optic configuration includes a plurality of single crystal portions (25) formed with respective spaced x-ray or neutron reflection faces (21,22,23) formed at predetermined asymmetry angles to a Bragg diffraction plane in the respective crystal portion. The crystal portions are interconnected (25) to maintain a first and second (21,22) of these faces spaced apart for receipt of a sample (8) between them and to allow small adjustments of the relative angle of the faces about the normal to the plane of diffraction while maintaining the normals to the Bragg planes for the first and second faces (21,22) substantially in the plane of diffraction. First face (21) is arranged to be a monochromator and collimator with respect to x-rays or neutrons of appropriate wavelength incident reflected through the sample for receipt by the second face (22), which thereby serves as an analyzer face.
Abstract:
A metal or glass wire is etched with great precision into a very narrowly tapering cone which has the shape of the desired final capillary-optics bore. By controlling the rate of removal of the wire from an etchant bath, a carefully controlled taper is produced. A sensor measures the diameter of the wire as it leaves the surface of the etchant. This signal is used for feedback control of the withdrawal speed. The etched wire undergoes a treatment to produce an extremely low surface-roughness. The etched and smoothed wire is coated with the material of choice for optimizing the reflectivity of the radiation being focused. This could be a vacuum evaporation, sputtering, CVD or aqueous chemical process. The coated wire is either electroplated, built up with electroless plating, or encapsulated in a polymer cylinder such as epoxy to increase the diameter of the wire for easier handling and greater robustness. During this process, the wire is vertically oriented and tensioned to assure that the wire is absolutely straight. The coated and electroformed wire is bonded to a flat, rigid substrate and is then periodically segmented by cutting or etching a series of narrow slits or grooves into the wire. The wire is vertically oriented and tensioned during the bonding process to assure that it is straight. The original wire material is then chemically etched away through the slits or otherwise withdrawn to leave the hollow internal bore of the final tapered-capillary optical element.
Abstract:
Analytic instruments using a Kumakhov lens are described. These instruments are useful for X-ray fluorescence analysis or spectroscopy, microscopy, digital subtraction analysis, electron microbeam analysis, X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction, among others. The analytic instrument provide increased precision and accuracy over instrumentation known in the art. Methods for using these instruments are also taught.
Abstract:
A device for controlling beams of particles, X-rays and gamma rays including a plurality of channels with total external reflection inner surfaces, input butt-ends facing a radiation source and output butt-ends aimed at a radiation receiver is taught. Channel-forming elements are in the form of surfaces, tubes, and structures with multiple channels and are rigidly positioned one relative to another with a spacing between supports such that the sagging of the channel-forming elements does not interfere with beam propagation. The device can be used to capture radiation from sources which produce parallel or divergent radiation. The resulting beam or beams can be of a variety of shapes or angular orientations including quasi-parallel, convergent, and split beams. Energy filtering is accomplished by selective absortion of radiation by the channel-forming elements and by selective reflection, by geometrics which cause some energies to be discriminated against because of the angle of total external reflection associated with that energy.
Abstract:
An improved neutron reflecting supermirror structure comprising a plurality of stacked sets of bilayers of neutron reflecting materials. The improved neutron reflecting supermirror structure is adapted to provide extremely good performance at high incidence angles, i.e. up to four time the critical angle of standard neutron mirror structures. The reflection of neutrons striking the supermirror structure at a high critical angle provides enhanced neutron throughput, and hence more efficient and economical use of neutron sources. One layer of each set of bilayers consist of titanium, and the second layer of each set of bilayers consist of an alloy of nickel with carbon interstitially present in the nickel alloy.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, an x-ray neutron instrument includes an x-ray or neutron lens (10) disposed in a path for x-rays or neutrons in the instrument. The lens (10) comprises multiple elongate open-ended channels (12) arranged across the path to receive and pass segments of an x-ray or neutron beam (14). The channels (12) have side walls reflective to x-rays or neutrons of the beam incident at a grazing angle less than the critical grazing angle for total external reflection of the x-rays or neutrons, whereby to cause substantial focusing or collimation and/or concentration of the thus reflected x-rays or neutrons. In a different embodiment, a condensing-collimating channel-cut monochromator comprises a channel (22) in a perfect-crystal or near perfect-crystal body (20). This channel (22) is formed with lateral surfaces (24, 26) which multiply reflect, by Bragg diffraction from selected Bragg planes, an incident beam (28) which has been collimated at least to some extent. The lateral surfaces (24, 26) are at a finite angle to each other whereby to monochromatize and spatially condense the beam (28) as it is multiply reflected, without substantial loss of reflectivity or transmitted power.