Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for performing an operation with x-rays, comprising: a source for generating the x-rays; and  a polycrystalline surface region having crystal spacings suitable for reflecting a plurality of x-rays at the same Bragg angle along said region and transmitting the reflected x-rays to a reference position. 2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the polycrystalline surface region is a barrel-shaped reflecting lens positionable to focus the x-rays about a point. claim 1 3. The system of  claim 1  including a detector for measuring electron emissions when a work piece is located at the reference position. claim 1 4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the polycrystalline surface region has a curved plane fiber texture orientation. claim 1 5. A method of performing an operation with x-rays, comprising: and providing x-rays to a polycrystalline surface region having crystal spacings suitable for reflecting a plurality of x-rays at the same Bragg angle along said region and transmitting the reflected x-rays to a reference position;  positioning a sample between the surface region and the reference position so that x-rays are transmitted through the sample. 6. The method of  claim 5  further including positioning a mask between the surface region and the sample to transmit a portion of the x-ray intensity striking the mask to the sample. claim 5 7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the reference position is a surface, further including the step of positioning a detector at the reference position to provide information indicative of an image of the sample. claim 5 8. The method of  claim 5  wherein the detector comprises a photographic film plate. claim 5 9. A method of performing an operation with x-rays, comprising: providing x-rays to a polycrystalline surface region having crystal spacings suitable for reflecting a plurality of x-rays at the same Bragg angle along said region and transmitting the reflected x-rays to a reference position; and  positioning a sample at the reference position so that x-rays strike the sample. 10. The method of  claim 9  wherein the x-rays perform on the sample one or more operations from the set consisting of cutting, welding, hardening, modifying mechanical properties, melting, alloying, cladding, texturing, and machining. claim 9