Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A monochromatic x-ray component for producing monochromatic x-ray radiation from broadband x-ray radiation, the monochromatic x-ray component comprising:a housing configured to be positioned proximate a broadband x-ray source;at least one first target arranged to receive broadband x-ray radiation emitted from the broadband x-ray source when the housing is positioned proximate the broadband x-ray source, the at least one first target configured to produce first monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received broadband x-ray radiation; andat least one second target to receive at least some of the first monochromatic x-ray radiation produced by the at least one first target when the at least one second target is positioned within the monochromatic x-ray component, the at least one second target configured to produce second monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received first monochromatic x-ray radiation. 2. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be positioned proximate to a vacuum tube of the broadband x-ray source, and wherein the at least one first target is positioned external to the vacuum tube when the housing is positioned proximate the vacuum tube. 3. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a receptacle configured to accommodate the at least one second target, and wherein the at least one second target is positioned external to the vacuum tube when the at least one second target is positioned within the receptacle. 4. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 3, further comprising a first aperture configured to allow at least some second monochromatic x-ray radiation to be emitted from the monochromatic x-ray component. 5. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 4, further comprising at least one blocking component to absorb at least some broadband x-ray radiation emitted from the broadband x-ray source. 6. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 5, wherein the at least one blocking component comprises a blocking component that is positioned between a second aperture configured to allow broadband x-ray radiation to be emitted from the broadband x-ray source and the receptacle. 7. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 5, wherein the at least one blocking component comprises the first aperture. 8. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, further comprising a filter positioned between an aperture in the broadband x-ray source and the at least one first target when the housing is positioned proximate the broadband x-ray source. 9. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 3, further comprising a carrier configured to accommodate the at least one second target. 10. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, wherein the at least one first target provides a conical or frustoconical space about an aperture of the broadband x-ray source in transmission paths of emitted broadband x-rays when the housing is positioned proximate the broadband x-ray source. 11. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, wherein the at least one second target comprises a solid target. 12. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, wherein the at least one second target comprises a plurality of spaced apart layers of material configured to produce the second monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to the received first monochromatic x-rays. 13. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 12, wherein the at least one second target comprises at least one conical or frustoconical shell. 14. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to attached to the broadband x-ray source. 15. A monochromatic x-ray component for producing monochromatic x-ray radiation from broadband x-ray radiation, the monochromatic x-ray component comprising:a housing configured to be positioned proximate a broadband x-ray source;at least one first target arranged to receive broadband x-ray radiation emitted from the broadband x-ray source when the housing is positioned proximate the broadband x-ray source, the at least one first target configured to produce first monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received broadband x-ray radiation; anda receptacle configured to accommodate at least one second target, the at least one second target configured to receive at least some of the first monochromatic x-ray radiation produced by the at least one first target and produce second monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received first monochromatic x-ray radiation when the at least one second target is positioned within the receptacle. 16. A monochromatic x-ray source comprising:a broadband x-ray source configured to emit broadband x-ray radiation; anda monochromatic x-ray component coupled to the broadband x-ray source, the monochromatic x-ray component comprising:at least one first target arranged to receive broadband x-ray radiation emitted from the broadband x-ray source and configured to produce first monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received broadband x-ray radiation; andat least one second target to receive at least some of the first monochromatic x-ray radiation produced by the at least one first target when the at least one second target is positioned within the monochromatic x-ray component, the at least one second target configured to produce second monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to absorbing at least some of the received first monochromatic x-ray radiation. 17. A monochromatic x-ray component for producing monochromatic x-ray radiation from broadband x-ray radiation, the monochromatic x-ray component comprising:a housing configured to be positioned proximate a vacuum tube of a broadband x-ray source, the housing comprising a receptacle;at least one first target positioned external to the vacuum tube when the housing is positioned proximate the vacuum tube and arranged to receive broadband x-ray radiation emitted from the broadband x-ray source when the housing is positioned proximate the broadband x-ray source, the at least one first target configured to produce first monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to the received broadband x-ray radiation;at least one second target to receive at least some of the first monochromatic x-ray radiation produced by the at least one first target when the at least one second target is positioned within the monochromatic x-ray component, the at least one second target configured to produce second monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to the received first monochromatic x-ray radiation; anda carrier configured to accommodate the at least one second target, wherein at least a portion of the carrier is configured to be inserted into the receptacle to position the at least one second target to receive monochromatic x-rays emitted by the at least one first target, wherein the at least one second target is positioned external to the vacuum tube when the at least one second target is positioned within the receptacle. 18. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 17, wherein the carrier comprises a transmissive portion and a blocking portion, and wherein the at least one second target is positioned at least partially within the transmissive portion. 19. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 18, wherein the blocking portion overlaps at least a portion of the at least one second target when the at least one second target is positioned within the carrier. 20. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 18, wherein the transmissive portion is arranged at a proximal end of the carrier and the blocking portion is arranged distally from the transmissive portion. 21. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 17, wherein the carrier comprises a proximal portion configured to accommodate the at least one second target and a distal portion configured to be separable from the proximal portion to facilitate insertion of the at least one secondary target. 22. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 21, wherein the proximal portion is integrated with the receptacle and the distal portion is configured to be removable. 23. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 21, wherein the proximal portion is formed substantially from material configured to absorb x-ray radiation. 24. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 17, wherein the carrier is configured to be removable from the receptacle. 25. The monochromatic x-ray component of claim 17, wherein the carrier is integrated with the receptacle.