Patent Number: 059237201
Section: claims

1. An x-ray spectrometer, comprising: an X-ray source;  a curved crystal monochromator which focuses a monochromatic x-ray beam onto a sample surface, the curved crystal monochromator comprising a shape which is substantially identical to a logarithmic spiral and having a width that is tapered along the arclength s of the crystal; and  a position-sensitive x-ray detector.  at least one single slit positioned between the source and the monochromator.  providing an x-ray source comprising an x-ray source, a curved crystal monochromator which focuses a monochromatic x-ray beam onto a sample surface, the curved monochromator comprising the shape of a logarithmic spiral and having a width that is tapered along the arclength s of the crystal, and a position-sensitive x-ray detector;  providing a sample comprising a single of multilamellar lipid layer deposited on a flat substrate; and  exposing the sampler to the focused x-ray beam of the x-ray spectrometer.  a second focusing device positioned so as to focus in the plane substantially perpendicular to the curved crystal monochromator.  providing an x-ray spectrometer comprising an x-ray source, a curved crystal monochromator which focuses a monochromatic x-ray beam onto a sample surface, the curved monochromator comprising the shape of a logarithmic spiral and having a width that is tapered along the arclength s of the crystal, and a position-sensitive x-ray detector; and  providing a crystallographically oriented sample;  exposing the sample to the focused beam of the x-ray spectrometer; and  measuring the diffraction intensity at the position-sensitive detector. 2. The x-ray spectrophotometer of claim 1, wherein the size of the focus of the x-ray beam onto the sample surface is less than or equal to about 3.1 microns. 3. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the curved crystal monochromator has a taper selected to minimize a third order difference in arclength s between an ideal logarithmic curve and the curved crystal. 4. The x-ray spectrophotometer of claim 1, wherein the size of the focus of the x-ray beam onto the sample surface is less than 20 microns. 5. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, monochromator crystal wherein the taper is less than about 100 milliradians. 6. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a linear position-sensitive proportional detector is used. 7. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the monochromator comprises a single crystal selected from the group consisting of germanium, silicon and lithium fluoride and multilayers thereof. 8. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a linear photodiode array is used. 9. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a linear charge coupled device is used. 10. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a 2-dimensional proportional x-ray detector is used. 11. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein a 2-dimensional charge coupled device is used. 12. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, further comprising: 13. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 12, wherein a plurality of slits are positioned in front of the monochromator. 14. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the taper is a linear taper. 15. A curved crystal monochromator which focuses a monochromatic x-ray beam onto a sample surface, wherein the width of the curved crystal monochromator is linearly tapered along an arclength s of the crystal. 16. The monochromator of claim 15, wherein the curved crystal monochromator has a taper selected to minimize a third order difference in arclength s between an ideal spiral curve and the curved crystal. 17. The monochromator of claim 15, wherein the monochromator crystal taper is less than about 20 milliradians. 18. A method for measuring electron density in a lipid layer, comprising: 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sample comprises natural or synthetic lipids. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the sample comprises natural or synthetic lipids deposited by centrifugation from solution or suspension. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the sample comprises a lipid deposited by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the sample comprises a lipid deposited by self-assembly from solution. 23. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, further comprising a sample. 24. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises an epitaxially grown layer. 25. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises a evaporated layer. 26. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises an epitaxially grown multilayer or superlattice. 27. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the sample comprises a multilayer deposited by evaporation. 28. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer is attached as an accessory to a larger film deposition system. 29. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 28, wherein the film parameters determined by the spectrometer may be used to control the deposition of a film. 30. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer is oriented to measure x-ray reflectivity from horizontal surfaces. 31. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, wherein the spectrometer is adapted for scanning in the lateral direction. 32. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 1, further comprising: 33. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 32, wherein the second focusing device comprises a curved mirror. 34. The x-ray spectrometer of claim 32, wherein the second focusing device comprises a curved crystal monochromator. 35. A method of measuring diffraction intensities from oriented samples in real time, comprising; 36. The method of claim 18 or 35, wherein the taper is a linear taper.