Patent ID: 6956928

Claim:
A small angle x-ray scattering apparatus for providing small angle x-ray scattering analysis of a sample, the apparatus comprising: an x-ray source that outputs an x-ray beam in a vertical direction; a sample support that supports the sample and maintains it in a position that intersects the x-ray beam such that x-ray energy is scattered from the sample along angles close to said vertical direction; a sample chamber that surrounds the sample support; a primary beampath enclosure through which the x-ray beam from the x-ray source travels, an environment of the primary beampath enclosure being isolated from an environment within the sample chamber; a secondary beampath enclosure through which the x-ray energy scattered from the sample travels, an environment of the secondary beampath enclosure being isolated from the environment within the sample chamber; a beamstop that at least partially attenuates a central portion of the x-ray beam that passes through the sample unscattered; and an x-ray detector that receives and detects the x-ray energy scattered from the sample, the detector being positioned to detect x-ray energy that is scattered along angles of less than five degrees relative to said vertical direction.