Patent Number: 062333062
Section: claims

1. An apparatus for irradiating an object (10) by means of X-rays, including an X-ray source (7) for producing X-rays (44) for irradiating the object, which X-ray source is provided with a bundle of capillary tubes (46) which conduct X-rays, the end (48) of the bundle which is intended as an exit for the X-rays being provided with an X-ray transparent X-ray window (50), characterized in that the X-ray source (7) includes an X-ray tube having a vacuumtight housing (52) which is provided with a window opening (54) for conducting the X-rays (44) produced by the tube to the exterior of the housing,  one end of the bundle is provided on the window opening (54) in a vacuumtight manner and that the capillary tubes at that end of the bundle are directed towards the location (56) where the X-rays are generated,  the interior of the capillary tubes (46) is in vacuum contact with the vacuum space of the X-ray tube which is situated within the housing, and  the X-ray transparent X-ray window (50) seals the interior of the capillary tubes from the environment in a vacuumtight manner. 2. An X-ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the thickness of the X-ray window (50) amounts to less than one micrometer. 3. An X-ray radiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the X-ray window (50) is made of a foil of a synthetic material. 4. An X-ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the X-ray window (50) is made of diamond. 5. An X-ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which apparatus is an X-ray analysis apparatus. 6. An X-ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which apparatus is an X-ray irradiation apparatus for medical purposes. 7. An X-ray irradiation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which apparatus is an X-ray lithography apparatus. 8. An X-ray source as defined in claim 1.