Patent ID: 9594036
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: G01B,G01N,G21K,H01J

Claim:
1. An x-ray system for analyzing a sample, comprising: at least one x-ray source comprising: a vacuum chamber; a window transparent to x-rays attached to the wall of the vacuum chamber; and, within the vacuum chamber: at least one electron beam emitter, and an anode target comprising: a substrate comprising a first selected material, and a plurality of discrete structures embedded into the first planar surface of the substrate such that each of the plurality of discrete structures is in thermal contact with the substrate, the plurality of discrete structures comprising: in which at least two of the plurality of discrete structures are arranged on a predetermined axis; in which the predetermined axis is parallel to the first planar surface of the substrate; in which the predetermined axis passes through the first window; in which each of the discrete structures has a thickness of less than 20 microns, and a means of directing electrons emitted by the at least one electron beam emitter onto the at least two arranged discrete structures such that x-rays are generated from each of the at least two arranged discrete structures; in which at least a portion of the generated x-rays propagating on the predetermined axis from each of the two arranged discrete structures is transmitted through the window; and additionally comprising: an x-ray optical system and to condition and create an x-ray beam with predetermined properties; said optical system additionally comprising a central beam stop positioned to block x-rays propagating parallel to the optical axis; a means to direct the x-ray beam to be incident onto an area of the surface of a sample at a grazing angle less than the critical angle with the surface; at least one detector positioned to detect the intensity of the x-rays emerging from the sample and generate electrical signals; and a signal processor to analyze the electrical signals to obtain information about at least one of: