Patent Number: 063303019
Section: claims

1. An x-ray analysis system comprising: a focusing optic for focusing an x-ray beam to a focal point;  a first slit optically coupled to said focusing optic;  a second slit optically coupled to said first slit; and  an x-ray detector, wherein said focal point is located between said second slit and said x-ray detector.  conditioning an x-ray beam with a lens  directing said x-ray beam through a first aperture;  directing said x-ray beam through a second aperture; and  focusing said x-ray beam with said lens at a point after it exits said second aperture.  a plate;  an opening formed in said plate, said opening having an outline which converges to a vertex;  an aperture formed in said plate a known distance from said vertex;  an x-ray detector used as feedback in orienting the x-ray beam,  positioning an x-ray beam to travel through an opening formed in a plate, said opening having an outline which converges to a vertex;  observing said x-ray beam with an x-ray detector providing feedback to determine if said x-ray beam is traveling through said opening;  indexing said x-ray beam in relative fashion with respect to said opening until said x-ray beam reaches said vertex of said opening; and  displacing said x-ray beam a known distance to the aperture.  a focusing optic for focusing an x-ray beam to a focal point;  a first slit optically coupled to said focusing optic;  a second slit optically coupled to said first slit to form and define said x-ray beam in conjunction with said first slit;  a third slit optically coupled to said second slit to block scattering from said second slit;  a sample housing for holding a sample to be illuminated by said x-ray beam; and  an x-ray detector for detecting a scattering pattern created by illuminating said sample, wherein said focal point is located between said second slit and said x-ray detector. 2. The x-ray analysis system of claim 1 further comprising a third guard slit optically coupled to said second slit to block parasitic scattering from said second slit. 3. The x-ray analysis system of claim 1, wherein said focusing optic is a Bragg reflector. 4. The x-ray analysis system of claim 3, wherein said Bragg reflector is a multilayer. 5. The x-ray analysis system of claim 4, wherein said Bragg reflector is depth graded. 6. The x-ray analysis system of claim 4, wherein said Bragg reflector is laterally graded. 7. The x-ray analysis system of claim 1, wherein said focusing optic is a total reflection mirror. 8. The x-ray analysis system of claim 1, wherein said focusing optic has an elliptical surface. 9. The x-ray analysis system of claim 1, wherein said focusing optic is a Kirkpatrick-Baez side-by-side optic. 10. The x-ray analysis system of claim 2, wherein said first, second and third slits are pinholes. 11. A method for reducing diffraction noise in an x-ray analysis system comprising: 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of directing said x-ray beam through a sample structure. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of detecting said x-ray beam after it exits said sample structure. 14. An apparatus for shaping an x-ray beam comprising: 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said opening has a triangular shaped end portion which converges to said vertex. 16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a rotating aperture plate having a plurality of apertures. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of said apertures is a different size. 18. A method of directing an x-ray beam through an aperture comprising: 19. An x-ray analysis system comprising: 20. The x-ray analysis system of claim 18, wherein said focusing optic is a Bragg reflector.