Patent Number: 050162675
Section: claims

1. An x-ray or neutron instrument incorporating a source of x-rays or neutrons, x-ray or neutron lens means disposed in a path for x-rays or neutrons emitted by said source, the lens means comprising an array of multiple channels being elongate open-ended but laterally closed ducts arranged across the path to receive and pass segments of an x-ray or neutron beam occupying said path, which channels have side walls reflective to x-rays or neutrons of said 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, each of said channels having a diameter to length ratio between one and two times said critical grazing angle whereby to achieve optimum efficiency with one reflection of the respective said beam segment in each channel. 2. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein the inclinations of said side walls are uniform in each channel but progressively change from channel to channel with respect to the optical axis of said path whereby to enchance focusing or collimation of said incident beam. 3. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said channels are ducts defined by a curved lateral wall. 4. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said channels are cylindrical ducts. 5. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said channels are hollow capillaries or bores. 6. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said channels are defined collectively by a micro-capillary or micro-channel plate. 7. An instrument according to claim 6 wherein said plate comprises a multiplicity of hollow optical fibres. 8. An instrument according to claim 6 wherein said micro-capillary plate is curved so that the angular tilts of the reflecting side walls in the channels vary parabolically with distance perpendicular to the optical axis. 9. A method of focusing, collimating and/or concentrating an x-ray or neutron beam, comprising directing the beam into the open ends of an array of multiple channels being elongate open-ended but laterally closed ducts which have side walls reflective to said x-rays or neutrons incident at a grazing angle less than the critical grazing angle for total external reflection of the x-rays or neutrons, at least a portion of said beam being incident at a grazing angle less than said critical grazing angle so that the beam is at least in part focused or collimated, each of said channels having a diameter to length ration between one and two times said critical grazing angle whereby to achieve optimum efficiency with one reflection of the respective said beam segment in each channel. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said channels are ducts defined by a curved lateral wall. 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said channels are cylindrical ducts. 12. An instrument according to claim 1 further including a source of x-rays and, optionally, a slit assembly, monochromator, sample holder and/or adjustable detector. 13. An instrument according to claim 1 as a pre-collimator in combination with a condensing-collimating channel cut monochromator to which collimated x-rays or neutons are directed from said lens means, said monochromator comprising a channel in a perfect-crystal or near perfect-crystal body, which channel is formed with lateral surfaces which multiply reflect, by Bragg diffraction from selected Bragg planes, an incident beam which has been collimated at least to some extent, wherein said lateral surfaces are at a finite angle to each other whereby to monochromatize and spatially condense said beam as it is multiply reflected, without substantial loss of reflectivity or transmitted power. 14. An instrument according to claim 13 wherein said lateral surfaces of the channel are so selected that, by virtue of the partial overlap of their reflectivity curves, the monochromator also further collimates said incident beam. 15. An instrument according to claim 13 wherein the respective asymmetry angles for said lateral surfaces (i.e. the angles between the respective surfaces and said selected Bragg plane) are jointly selected to optimize the bandwidth, angular collimation, integrated reflectivity and spatial condensation of the exit beam. 16. An instrument according to claim 15 including means to vary said finite angle. 17. An instrument according to claim 16 wherein the selected Bragg planes are the lll planes and the asymmetry angles for said lateral surfaces with respect to these planes are respectively .alpha..sub.1 =0 at .alpha..sub.2 =10.degree., in the order of reflection. 18. An instrument according to claim 17 wherein said incident beam is reflected at plural parallel lateral faces in said crystal, to reduce the intensity of the Bragg tails. 19. A condensing-collimating channel-cut monochromator comprising a channel in a perfect-crystal or near perfect-crystal body, which channel is formed with lateral surfaces which multiply reflect, by Bragg diffraction from selected Bragg planes, an incident beam which has been collimated at least to some extent, wherein said lateral surfaces are at a finite angle to each other whereby to monochromatise and spatially condense said beam as it is multiply reflected, without substantial loss of reflectivity or transmitted power, wherein the respective asymmetry angles for said lateral surfaces (i.e. the angles between the respective surfaces and said selected Bragg plane) are jointly selected to optimize the bandwidth, angular collimation, integrated reflectivity and spatial condensation of the exit beam by correlated reference to data relating these parameters to selectable asymmetry angles. 20. A monochromator according to claim 19 wherein said lateral surfaces of the channel are so selected that, by virtue of the partial overlap of their reflectivity curves, the monochromator also further collimates said incident beam. 21. A monochromator according to claim 20 including means to vary said finite angle. 22. A monochromator according to claim 21 wherein the selected Bragg planes are the lll planes and the asymmetry angles for said lateral surfaces with respect to these planes are respectively .alpha..sub.1 =0 and .alpha..sub.2 =10.degree., in the order of reflection. 23. A monochromator according to claim 22 wherein said incident beam is reflected at plural parallel lateral faces in said crystal, to reduce the intensity of the Bragg tails. 24. A method of spatially condensing a beam of radiation, e.g. of x-rays or neutrons, which has been collimated at least to some extent, comprising directing the beam into a channel in a perfect-crystal or near perfect-crystal body, which channel is formed with lateral surfaces which multiply reflect said incident beam by Bragg diffraction from selected Bragg planes, wherein said lateral surfaces are at a finite angle to each other whereby to monochromatise and spatially condense said beam as it is multiply reflected, without substantial loss of reflectivity or transmitted power, wherein the respective asymmetry angles for said lateral surfaces (i.e. the angles between the respective surfaces and said selected Bragg plane) are jointly selected to optimize the bandwidth, angular collimation, integrated reflectivity and spatial condensation of the exit beam by correlated reference to data relating these parameters to selectable asymmetry angles. 25. An x-ray or neutron instrument incorporating x-ray or neutron lens means disposed in a path for x-rays or neutrons in the instrument, the lens means comprising multiple elongate open-ended channels arranged across the path to receive and pass segments of an x-ray or neutron beam occupying said path, which channels have side walls reflective to x-rays or neutrons of said 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, said instrument further comprising an x-ray or neutron monochromator positioned to receive focused, collimated or concentrated x-rays or neutrons from said lens means. 26. A condensing-collimating channel-cut monochromator comprising a channel in a perfect-crystal or near perfect-crystal body, which channel is formed with lateral surfaces which multiply reflect, by Bragg diffraction from selected Bragg planes, an incident beam which has been collimated at least to some extent, wherein said lateral surfaces are at a finite angle to each other whereby to monochromatise and spatially condense said beam as it is multiply reflected, without substantial loss of reflectivity or transmitted power, wherein said body further includes plural parallel lateral faces in said crystal, arranged to multiply reflect the monochromatised and condensed beam, whereby to reduce the intensity of the Bragg tails.