Patent ID: 7796726

Claim:
An X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument for analyzing samples having no sample preparation, comprising: a X-ray source configured to output a collimated X-ray beam comprising a continuum spectrum of X-rays to a predetermined coordinate; a photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer disposed to receive X-ray photons output from an unprepared sample disposed at the predetermined coordinate upon exposure of the unprepared sample to said collimated X-ray beam; and a housing defining a vacuum chamber and a sample aperture, the sample aperture comprising an X-ray window disposed therein, wherein the X-ray source and the photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer are arranged in a reflection geometry relative to the predetermined coordinate, wherein the X-ray source is disposed in the vacuum chamber at a first side of the housing and the photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer is disposed at a second side of the housing in the vacuum chamber or in another vacuum chamber at the second side of the housing, wherein said predetermined coordinate is adjacent an exterior of the X-ray window, and wherein said sample aperture comprises a first X-ray window disposed between said X-ray source and said predetermined coordinate outside of the housing and a second X-ray window disposed between said predetermined coordinate outside of the housing and said photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer.