Patent ID: 8488743
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: B82Y,G21K

Abstract:
1. A nanotube based device for guiding a beam of x-rays, photons, or neutrons, the device comprising: at least one self-assembling nanotube having a central axial line along a length between two ends, an optical entrance at one of the two ends and an optical exit at the other one of the two ends, the at least one nanotube being positioned that the optical entrance is oriented toward an incoming beam; the at least one nanotube being configured to redirect the beam though external total reflection on inner surfaces of the at least one nanotube and having a wall thickness that exceeds a defined radiation penetration depth at least in portions of the length, and at least one zone along the nanotube length, the zone being one of: a zone in which the central axial line of the at least one nanotube is positioned along a propagation direction of the incoming beam; a zone of a plurality of nanotubes having an increasing tube wall thickness adjacent at least one of the two ends so that outside walls of neighboring nanotubes touch each other in this zone; a zone in which the central axial line of the at least one nanotube is bent to provide desirable beam redirection, with a local bending radii, a local internal diameters, and a local outside diameters in different locations within the zone tight nanotubes packing in all assembly cross sections; a zone in which the central axial line is straight and the at least one nanotube has an expanding internal diameter; a zone of a plurality of nanotubes in which the central axial lines of the plurality of nanotubes are straight and the nanotubes have a uniform wall thickness and are packed tightly.