Patent Number: 051777746
Section: claims

1. A soft X-ray reflection imaging microscope for observing surface or near surface features of an object or specimen comprising: a soft X-ray generator for producing soft X-ray beams;  condenser means for receiving said soft X-ray beams, and focusing said beams to strike an area of the surface of said object at a predetermined angle, thereby causing a portion of said beams to reflect off of the surface of said object at substantially said predetermined angle;  objective means located for receiving said reflected beams and focusing the same to form an image; and  detector means for detecting the image formed by said objective means.  directing soft X-ray beams to strike a surface of a specimen at a predetermined angle thereto for causing said X-ray beams to be reflected off of said surface of said specimen at said predetermined angle; and  focusing on a detector a portion of the reflected soft X-ray beams to form an image of the region of the surface or near surface of said specimen struck by said X-ray beams.  means for generating soft X-ray beams of a predetermined wavelength;  a Schwarzschild mirror condenser, for condensing said soft X-ray beams to illuminate a given area of said specimen;  a Schwartzchild mirror objective, for focusing soft X-ray beams reflected off of the surface of said specimen to form an image; and  detector means positioned relative to said focusing means for receiving, for recording, or for visual presentation of the image formed by said focusing means. 2. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means and said objective means each include a Schwarzschild mirror. 3. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means includes a Schwarzschild mirror, and said objective means includes a zone plate. 4. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means includes a zone plate, and said objective means includes a Schwarzschild mirror. 5. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means includes a zone plate, and said objective means includes a zone plate, and wherein either of zone plates are circular or elliptical. 6. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means includes an ellipsoidal mirror, and said objective means includes a zone plate. 7. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said condenser means includes an ellipsoidal mirror, and said objective means includes a Schwarzschild mirror. 8. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, further including bandpass filter means located between said condenser means and said object for passing said soft X-ray beams while substantially blocking other radiation. 9. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, further including optical microscope means located for permitting visual alignment of said object relative to said condenser and focusing means. 10. The X-ray microscope of claim 8, wherein said bandpass filter means includes an 80.0 nm thick aluminum filter with a coating of 10.0 nm carbon film. 11. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said detector means includes a CCD array. 12. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, wherein said detector means includes X-ray sensitive film. 13. A method for providing a soft X-ray reflection imaging microscope, for examining specimens, said method comprising the steps of: 14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of recording the image from said focusing step on said detector consisting of photographic film sensitive to said X-rays. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said focusing step further includes the step of focusing said image on said detector consisting of a CCD array. 16. A soft X-ray reflection imaging microscope for observing surface or near surface features of an object or specimen comprising: 17. The X-ray microscope of claim 16, further including bandpass filter means located between said soft X-ray generator and said object for passing said soft X-ray beams while substantially blocking other radiation. 18. The X-ray microscope of claim 16, further including optical microscope means located for permitting visual alignment of said object relative to said directing and focusing means. 19. The X-ray microscope of claim 17, wherein said bandpass filter means includes an 80.0 nm thick aluminum filter with a coating of 10.0 nm carbon film. 20. The X-ray microscope of claim 16, wherein said detector means includes a CCD array. 21. The X-ray microscope of claim 16, wherein said detector means includes X-ray sensitive film.