ENERGY-RESOLVING X-RAY DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

An energy-resolving x-ray detection system is provided, the system including at least one x-ray optic configured to receive x-rays having an energy bandwidth with a maximum x-ray energy. The at least one x-ray optic has at least one concave surface extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis. The at least one concave surface is curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and is configured to direct at least some of the received x-rays into at least one convergent x-ray beam having a minimum beam width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The minimum beam width is at a location and the at least one concave surface has an x-ray reflectivity less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than one-third of the maximum x-ray energy. The system further includes at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam. The at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector has at least one x-ray absorbing element configured to generate detection signals indicative of energies of x-rays absorbed by the at least one x-ray absorbing element. The at least one x-ray absorbing element is within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The present application relates generally to systems and methods for energy-resolved x-ray detection.

Description of the Related Art

Many elements have x-ray fluorescence (XRF) lines in the lower energy end of the x-ray spectrum (e.g., having energies in a range below 4 keV and/or wavelengths greater than 0.2 nm, sometimes referred to as “soft” x-rays and/or “tender” x-rays). Detection and energy measurement of such x-rays can be challenging for various reasons, at least some of which include but are not limited to:

• • Because x-ray fluorescence yield of characteristic x-rays of energies in the “soft” and “tender” energy range decreases rapidly from about 12% to less than 1%, their detection and measurement suffer from noise background, including Bremsstrahlung radiation and incomplete charge collection in energy detectors.
  • Because attenuation and/or scattering of such x-rays in matter increases with decreasing x-ray energy, very thin windows with high x-ray transmission in the propagation path between an object under analysis and an energy dispersive x-ray detector are often used.
  • Certain types of x-ray detectors are operated at cooled temperatures (e.g., liquid helium temperatures), and often use a thin high x-ray transmission window attached to the detectors. For x-ray detectors that are sensitive to visible light, the window are made to be opaque to visible light and are frequently coated with a thin metallic layer.
  • The absorption of low energy x-rays generally create a small number of detectable signals (e.g., electron-hole pairs in energy-dispersive detectors; superconductor-to-normal conductor transitions due to heat in microcalorimeters), depending on the nature of the detection system. These signals are to be detected with sufficiently high efficiency to provide accurate x-ray energy measurements.
  • In many applications, low energy x-rays are to be discriminated from a larger number of higher energy x-rays, which are a major source of background in the low energy x-ray energy spectrum. For example, detection of the higher energy x-rays can give rise to an erroneous lower energy measurement due to incomplete charge collection in the x-ray detector or due to other effects (e.g., Compton scattering; escape of fluorescence x-rays following photoelectric absorption; etc.). In addition these higher energy x-rays can saturate the count rate of the x-ray detector (e.g., for superconductor-based calorimeter x-ray detector).
  • For high energy resolution for low energy x-rays, the detector is generally small in size.

Some commercially available low energy x-ray detectors are based on the creation of electron-hole pairs in semiconductor materials (e.g., silicon; germanium), for example, silicon drift detectors, charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector arrays, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) detector arrays. Other available low energy x-ray detectors utilize electron emission and multiplication from gases, channeltrons, channel plates, avalanche photodiodes, etc., as well as scintillators (e.g., in conjunction with photomultiplier tubes and/or CCD arrays with or without imaging optics). However, most of these commercially available low energy x-ray detectors do not provide energy resolution that is better than ±50 eV. Other commercially available low energy x-ray detectors utilize x-ray microcalorimeters and/or transition-edge x-ray detectors, which can provide energy resolution of 5 eV or better, but that are operated at liquid helium temperatures.

SUMMARY

In one aspect disclosed herein, an energy-resolving x-ray detection system is provided, the system comprising at least one x-ray optic configured to receive x-rays having an energy bandwidth with a maximum x-ray energy. The at least one x-ray optic comprises at least one concave surface extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis. The at least one concave surface is curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and is configured to direct at least some of the received x-rays into at least one convergent x-ray beam having a minimum beam width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The minimum beam width is at a location and the at least one concave surface has an x-ray reflectivity less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than one-third of the maximum x-ray energy. The system further comprises at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam. The at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector comprises at least one x-ray absorbing element configured to generate detection signals indicative of energies of x-rays absorbed by the at least one x-ray absorbing element. The at least one x-ray absorbing element is within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width.

In another aspect disclosed herein, an energy-resolving x-ray detection system is provided, the system comprising at least one x-ray optic configured to receive x-rays having a first energy bandwidth with a first maximum x-ray energy. The at least one x-ray optic comprises at least one substrate comprising a first material and at least one concave surface extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis. The at least one concave surface is curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and is configured to direct at least some of the received x-rays into at least one x-ray beam. The at least one concave surface comprises at least one layer on or over at least a portion of the at least one substrate. The at least one layer comprises a second material having a mass density greater than 3 g/cm³ and a thickness greater than 10 nm, the second material different from the first material. The system further comprises at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one x-ray beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically illustrate cross-sectional views of various configurations of an example energy-resolving x-ray detection system in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2A shows the reflectivity of a platinum layer deposited on a SiO₂ structure and that has a thickness of 30 nm in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2B shows the reflectivity of a palladium layer deposited on a SiO₂ structure and that has a thickness of 30 nm in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example x-ray spectrum of the received x-rays incident to the at least one concave surface and an example x-ray spectrum for the x-rays from the at least one concave surface in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example at least one x-ray transmissive aperture in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically illustrate cross-sectional views of various configurations of an example energy-resolving x-ray detection system 100 in accordance with certain embodiments described herein. As schematically illustrated by FIGS. 1A and 1B, the system 100 comprises at least one x-ray optic 110 configured to receive x-rays 10 having an incident intensity distribution as a function of x-ray energy (e.g., an incident x-ray energy spectrum) with a maximum x-ray energy E. The at least one x-ray optic 110 comprises at least one concave surface 114 extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis 120. The at least one concave surface 114 is curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis 120 (e.g., in a cross-sectional plane that includes the longitudinal axis 120). The at least one concave surface 114 is configured to direct (e.g., reflect; diffract) at least some of the received x-rays 10 into at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 having a minimum beam width 22 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 120, the minimum beam width 22 at a location. The at least one concave surface 114 has an x-ray reflectivity less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than one-third of the maximum x-ray energy E. The system 100 further comprises at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20. The at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 comprises at least one x-ray absorbing element 132 configured to generate detection signals indicative of energies of x-rays absorbed by the at least one x-ray absorbing element 132. The at least one x-ray absorbing element 132 is within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width 22. The cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1A and 1B are in a cross-sectional plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis 120 (e.g., the cross-sectional plane includes the longitudinal axis 120).

In certain embodiments, a distance of the at least one concave surface 114 from the longitudinal axis 120 varies as a function of position along the longitudinal axis 120. For example, the concave surface 114 can comprise an inner surface of a hollow axially symmetric structure (e.g., an axially symmetric tube) having an inner diameter which varies as a function of position along the longitudinal axis 120. In certain such embodiments, at least a portion of the structure can be tapered (e.g., having a first inner diameter at a first position along the longitudinal axis 120 and having a second inner diameter at a second position along the longitudinal axis 120, the second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter; a portion of a tapered cone profile). At least a portion of the concave surface 114 of certain embodiments can have a distance from the longitudinal axis 120 that does not vary as a function of position along the longitudinal axis 120. For example, the portion of the concave surface 114 can comprise an inner surface of a structure having an inner diameter that does not substantially vary (e.g., does not vary by more than 10%) as a function of position along the longitudinal axis 120.

In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the concave surface 114 has a profile that comprises a portion of a quadric profile in a cross-sectional plane that comprises the longitudinal axis 120. In certain embodiments, the at least one concave surface 114 comprises multiple portions having cross-sectional profiles (e.g., in a cross-sectional plane that comprises the longitudinal axis 120) comprising corresponding quadric profiles. Examples of quadric profiles compatible with certain embodiments described herein include, but are not limited to: at least one ellipsoid; at least one paraboloid; at least one hyperboloid; or a combination of two or more thereof.

In certain embodiments, the at least one x-ray optic 110 comprises at least one substrate 112 (e.g., comprising glass or silicon oxide) comprises a single, unitary element. For example, the substrate 112 can comprise a hollow axially symmetric structure (e.g., a tube) extending along the longitudinal axis 120 and the at least one concave surface 114 comprises an inner surface of the structure that extends fully around the longitudinal axis 120 (e.g., encircles the longitudinal axis 120; extends 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis 120). In certain other embodiments, the at least one substrate 112 comprises at least one portion of a hollow axially symmetric structure (e.g., a portion of an axially symmetric tube) extending along the longitudinal axis 120 with an inner surface that extends only partially around the longitudinal axis 120 (e.g., less than 360 degrees; in a range of 45 degrees to 315 degrees; in a range of 45 degrees to 360 degrees; in a range of 180 degrees to 360 degrees; in a range of 90 degrees to 270 degrees). In certain embodiments, the at least one substrate 112 comprises multiple substrate portions (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or more) separate from one another (e.g., with spaces between the substrate portions) and distributed around the longitudinal axis 120, with the concave surface 114 of each substrate portion extending at least partially around and along the longitudinal axis 120. For example, the concave surfaces 114 of the multiple substrate portions can each extend around the longitudinal axis 120 by an angle in a range of 15 degrees to 175 degrees, in a range of 30 degrees to 115 degrees, and/or in a range of 45 degrees to 85 degrees.

In certain embodiments, the at least one concave surface 114 has a first linear dimension (e.g., length) parallel to the longitudinal axis 120 in a range of 3 mm to 150 mm, a second linear dimension (e.g., width) perpendicular to the first linear dimension in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm, and a maximum linear dimension (e.g., an inner diameter; a maximum length of a straight line segment joining two points on the concave surface 114) in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 120, a surface roughness in a range of 0.1 nm to 1 nm, and/or a plurality of surface tangent planes having a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis 120 in a range of 0.01 radian to 0.5 radian (e.g., in a range of 0.01 radian to 0.4 radian; in a range of 0.01 radian to 0.3 radian; in a range of 0.01 radian to 0.2 radian).

For example, FIG. 1A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example system 100 in which the at least one concave surface 114 has a portion of an ellipsoidal profile in a cross-sectional plane comprising the longitudinal axis 120 in accordance with certain embodiments described herein. An x-ray source (e.g., a sample emitting fluorescence x-rays; a point source; a diverging x-ray source) emits x-rays 10 that have a range of x-ray energies and have an isotropic spatial distribution. As schematically illustrated by FIG. 1A, the x-ray source is positioned at or near a first focus 150 of the ellipsoidal profile such that at least some of the emitted x-rays 10 are received by the at least one concave surface 114. At least some of the received x-rays 10 impinge the at least one concave surface 114 at an incident grazing angle that is smaller than the critical angle, and are reflected into the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20. The at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 from the at least one concave surface 114 is directed towards a second focus 160 of the ellipsoidal profile (e.g., the location of the minimum beam width 22) and is received by the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 positioned away from the second focus 160 (e.g., positioned such that the second focus 160 is between the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 and the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 diverges from the second focus 160 before being received by the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130).

For another example, FIG. 1B schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example system 100 in which the at least one x-ray optic 110 comprises two portions 110a, 110b and the at least one concave surface 114 comprises first and second portions 114a, 114b, each with a paraboloidal profile in a cross-sectional plane comprising the longitudinal axis 120 in accordance with certain embodiments described herein. The x-ray source (e.g., a sample emitting fluorescence x-rays; a point source; a diverging x-ray source) emits x-rays 10 that have a range of x-ray energies and have an isotropic spatial distribution. As schematically illustrated by FIG. 1B, the x-ray source is positioned at or near a focus 170a of the first paraboloidal profile (e.g., a paraboloidal collimator), and at least some of the x-rays 10 from the x-ray source are received by the first portion 114a. At least some of the received x-rays 10 impinge the first portion 114a at an incident grazing angle that is smaller than the critical angle, and are reflected and collimated by the first portion 114a (e.g., in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 120). The collimated x-rays 15 are received by the second portion 114b, which has a second paraboloidal profile (e.g., a focusing paraboloidal mirror), and at least some of the collimated x-rays 15 received by the second portion 114b impinge the second portion 114b at an incident grazing angle that is smaller than the critical angle, and are reflected and focused (e.g., re-focused) into the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 which propagates towards a focus 170b of the second portion 114b and is received by the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 positioned away from the focus 170b (e.g., positioned such that the focus 170b is between the second portion 110b of the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 and the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 diverges from the focus 170b before being received by the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130).

In certain embodiments, the system 100 further comprises at least one layer on or over a portion of the at least one concave surface 114, such that the at least one concave surface 114 has an x-ray reflectivity that varies as a function of incident x-ray energy. For example, the at least one x-ray optic 110 can comprise at least one substrate 112, and the at least one concave surface 114 can comprise at least one surface of the at least one substrate 112 and the at least one layer can be on or over at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one substrate 112. The substrate 112 can comprise a first material (e.g., glass; silicon oxide) and the at least one layer can comprise a second material different from the first material (e.g., having a mass density greater than 3 g/cm³ and a thickness greater than 10 nm). For example, FIG. 2A shows the reflectivity of a platinum layer deposited on a SiO₂ structure and that has a thickness of 30 nm in accordance with certain embodiments described herein, and FIG. 2B shows the reflectivity of a palladium layer deposited on a SiO₂ structure and that has a thickness of 30 nm in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

In certain embodiments, the at least one layer can comprise a mosaic crystal structure and/or a plurality of layers (e.g., a multilayer stack; a stack of layers that have been sequentially deposited onto the concave surface 114 and one another, the layers having selected materials and selected thicknesses). The mosaic crystal structure can comprise one or more mosaic graphite crystal structures, including but not limited to, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), highly annealed pyrolytic graphite (HAPG), or a combination thereof, and the at least one mosaic crystal structure can have a thickness in a range of 5 microns to 100 microns (e.g., 10 microns to 100 microns) and a mosaicity (e.g., mosaic spread) in a range of 0.05 degree to 1 degree (e.g., 0.1 degree to 1 degree). The plurality of layers can comprise a first plurality of first layers comprising a first material and a second plurality of second layers comprising a second material, the first layers and the second layers alternating with one another in a direction perpendicular to the concave surface 114. For example, the at first material and the second material of the plurality of alternating layers can have a mass density difference of more than 1 g/cm³ between neighboring layers of the plurality of alternating layers and each of the alternating layers can have a thickness in a range of 1 nm to 9 nm. In certain embodiments, the plurality of layers are formed by at least one of: atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical-vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, or a combination of two or more thereof. In certain embodiments, the plurality of layers modifies the critical angle, thereby increasing the solid angle acceptance of the at least one x-ray optic 110. The at least one mosaic crystal structure and/or the plurality of layers can be configured to direct (e.g., diffract) at least some of the x-rays 10 received by the at least one x-ray optic 110 towards the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130. Examples of a mosaic crystal structure and a plurality of layers compatible with certain embodiments described herein are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/680,451, filed Jun. 4, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/680,795 filed Jun. 5, 2018, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein, and in the U.S. non-provisional application entitled “Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer” filed on even date herewith and incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example x-ray spectrum 300 (solid line) of the received x-rays 10 incident to the at least one concave surface 114 in accordance with certain embodiments described herein. FIG. 3 also schematically illustrates an example x-ray spectrum 310 (dashed line) for the x-rays 20 from the at least one concave surface 114. The incident x-ray spectrum 300 has a first intensity distribution as a function of x-ray energy and a first energy bandwidth with a first maximum x-ray energy, and the x-ray spectrum 310 has a corresponding second intensity distribution as a function of x-ray energy that is different from the first intensity distribution and a second maximum x-ray energy that is lower than the first maximum x-ray energy. For example, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, the example incident x-ray spectrum 300 of the incident received x-rays 10 (e.g., corresponding to the emitted x-rays from an electron-bombarded x-ray target) has substantial intensity values across a broad range of x-ray energies (e.g., a first energy bandwidth in a range of 0.5 keV to 25 keV), as well as characteristic K_α and K_β emission lines and other x-ray fluorescence (XRF) lines 302 that are to be detected in the low energy region (e.g., below 5 keV). The x-ray spectrum 310 of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 has substantial intensity values in a narrower range of x-ray energies (e.g., a second energy bandwidth in a range of 0.5 keV to 8 keV) with lower intensity values than those of the incident x-ray spectrum 300 at the same x-ray energies. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the x-ray spectrum 310 also includes the XRF lines 302 that are to be detected, the lines 302 having only a small reduction in intensity values in the x-ray spectrum 310. In this way, certain embodiments described herein advantageously provide x-ray spectra having a reduction of x-rays at higher energies (e.g., a narrower energy bandwidth), while leaving XRF lines 302 of interest in the low energy region relatively unaffected, which can lead to numerous advantages when used in conjunction with an energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130.

In certain embodiments, at least one concave surface 114 has an x-ray reflectivity that is less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than a predetermined x-ray energy (e.g., 5 keV; 7 keV; 9 keV; one-third of the maximum x-ray energy of the incident x-ray spectrum 300). As used herein, the maximum x-ray energy of the incident x-ray spectrum is the x-ray energy above which the incident x-ray spectrum is equal to zero. For example, for an x-ray tube in which the x-rays are generated by an electron beam bombarding a target material, the maximum x-ray energy of the generated x-rays is equal to the kinetic energy of the electron beam. The x-ray emission spectrum from a sample being irradiated by x-rays from such an x-ray source also has a maximum x-ray energy equal to the kinetic energy of the electron beam. For example, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, the maximum x-ray energy of the incident x-ray spectrum 300 is approximately 25 keV, and the x-ray reflectivity of the at least one concave surface 114 is less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than about 8.3 keV. In certain such embodiments, the x-ray spectrum 310 has a high-energy cut-off (e.g., at an x-ray energy less than one-third of the maximum x-ray energy of the incident x-ray spectrum 300).

In certain embodiments, the system 100 further comprises at least one beam stop 180 configured to be placed in the x-ray beam path to stop (e.g., intercept; prevent) x-rays that are propagating along the longitudinal axis 120 but that do not irradiate the at least one x-ray optic 110 from reaching the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130. The at least one beam stop 180 of certain embodiments defines a cone angle (e.g., less than 3 degrees; less than 50 mrad) centered around the longitudinal axis 120. The at least one beam stop 180 can be positioned at the entrance side of the at least one x-ray optic 110 (see, e.g., FIG. 1A), between two portions 110a, 110b of the at least one x-ray optic 110 (see, e.g., FIG. 1B), and/or at the exit side of the at least one x-ray optic 110. For example, the at least one beam stop 180 can be held in place by thin radial wires mechanically coupled to a supporting structure or by a thin membrane.

In certain embodiments, the system 100 further comprises at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 between the at least one concave surface 114 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130, and FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example x-ray transmissive aperture 400 in accordance with certain embodiments described herein. The at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 of certain embodiments comprises at least one orifice 410 (e.g., hole) that extends from a first side 422 of at least one structure 420 (e.g., plate) to a second side 424 of the at least one structure 420, the at least one structure 420 comprising at least one first material that is opaque to the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20. The at least one orifice 410 is transmissive of at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20. For example, the at least one orifice 410 can be substantially empty of material (e.g., a hole substantially devoid of material or at vacuum) or the at least one orifice 410 can comprise at least one second material that is substantially transmissive of at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20.

In certain embodiments, the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 comprises at least one window 430 configured to be transmissive to at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20. For example, the at least one window 430 can be within the at least one orifice 410 of the at least one structure 420 and/or can be outside the at least one orifice 410 (e.g., mounted on a surface of the at least one structure 420). The at least one window 430 can have a thickness in a range of 20 nm to 2 microns and can comprise at least one of: diamond, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and polymer. In certain embodiments, the at least one window 430 comprises at least one metallic layer having a thickness in a range of 30 nm to 200 nm and comprising at least one of: Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, La, and alloys and/or combinations thereof.

As schematically illustrated by FIG. 4, the example at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 comprises a first structure 420a having a first orifice 410a, a second structure 420b comprising a second orifice 410b, and a window 430 over the second orifice 410b. At least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 propagates through the window 430 and is received by the at least one x-ray absorbing element 132 of the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130.

In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 is positioned within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width 22. For example, the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 can be at or near (e.g., within 40 mm; within 20 mm; within 10 mm) the second focus 160 of the example system 100 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A or at or near (e.g., within 40 mm; within 20 mm; within 10 mm) the focus 170b of the second portion 110b of the at least one x-ray optic 110 of the example system 100 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1B. As schematically illustrated by FIG. 4, the window 430 of the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 is positioned at or near (e.g., within 20 mm; within 10 mm) the location of the minimum beam width 22. The at least one orifice 410 of the x-ray transmissive aperture 400 can have a dimension (e.g., width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 120) that is greater than the minimum beam width 22 (e.g., between 105% and 300% of the beam size of the at least one convergent x-ray beam 20 at the position of the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400). For example, the minimum beam width 22 can be less than or equal to 2 mm, and the at least one orifice 410 can have a width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 120 that is: less than 2.1 mm; between 2.1 mm and 6 mm; less than 6 mm. In certain embodiments, the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture 400 is rigidly mechanically coupled to the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130. In certain embodiments, the at least one window 430 is a component of the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130.

In certain embodiments the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 has an energy resolution in a range of 0.5 eV to 130 eV. In certain embodiments, the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 is selected from the group consisting of: a silicon drift x-ray detector (SDD), a superconductor-based x-ray microcalorimeter detector (e.g., comprising a plurality of active elements), a lithium drift Si x-ray detector, a lithium drift Ge x-ray detector, a p-i-n diode x-ray detector (e.g., with an active area with a length or width less than 1 mm), and a transition-edge x-ray detector (e.g., comprising a plurality of active elements). For example, the at least one x-ray absorbing element 132 can comprise a material (e.g., silicon; germanium; superconducting material) and corresponding electronics configured to detect an amount of ionization, electron/hole pair formation, and/or heat produced within the material by an incoming x-ray. In certain embodiments, the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 comprises a single x-ray absorbing element 132, while in certain other embodiments, the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 comprises a plurality of x-ray absorbing elements 132 arranged is a spatial array.

In certain embodiments, the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 comprises a pixel array x-ray detector configured to record a spatial distribution of at least a portion of the x-rays 20 received from the at least one x-ray optic 110. Each pixel of the pixel array can be configured to generate detection signals indicative of the energies of x-rays absorbed by the pixel. For example, as disclosed in U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/680,451, filed June 4, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Appl. No. 62/680,795 filed June 5, 2018, each of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein, and in U.S. non-provisional application entitled “Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer” filed on even date herewith and incorporated in its entirety by reference herein, the x-rays 20 from the at least one x-ray optic 110 diverge from one another at the location of the minimum beam width 22 such that x-rays 20 with different x-ray energies are spatially distinct from one another due to the Bragg relation, and the x-rays 20 with a range of x-ray energies impinge the x-ray detector 130 across a corresponding range of positions. A spatially-resolving x-ray detector 130 of certain embodiments detects the x-rays 20 with a spatial resolution that can be related to an energy resolution.

In certain embodiments, the pixel array x-ray detector can be one-dimensional (e.g., extending along one dimension; extending along one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 120) or can be two-dimensional (e.g., extending along two orthogonal dimensions; extending along two directions that are perpendicular to one another and to the longitudinal axis 120), with pixel sizes in a range from 1 micron to 200 microns (e.g., in a range of 2 microns to 200 microns; in a range of 3 microns to 200 microns). Example pixel array x-ray detectors 130 compatible with certain embodiments described herein include but are not limited to: direct-detection charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) detector, energy-resolving x-ray detector, indirect conversion detector comprising an x-ray scintillator, a photon counting detector.

In certain embodiments, the combination of the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 provides advantages in the detection of soft and tender x-rays as compared to the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 alone. For example, by using the at least one x-ray optic 110 to reduce the amount of higher energy x-rays (e.g., x-rays with energies above 10 keV) that impinge the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130, certain embodiments advantageously improve the signal-to-noise ratio by reducing the background contribution from these higher energy x-rays in the detected x-ray spectrum (e.g., due to incomplete charge collection in silicon drift detector elements), thereby making it easier to identify small peaks in the detected x-ray spectrum (e.g., XRF lines 302 with energies less than or equal to 5 keV, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3). For another example, the combination of the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 provides improved energy resolution as compared to the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 alone. In certain such embodiments, the combination of the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 provides sufficient energy resolution (e.g., in a range of 10 eV to 20 eV) to distinguish soft x-ray emission lines (e.g., having full-widths-at-half-maximum in a range of 1 eV to 8 eV and separated from one another by an energy in a range of 10 eV to 20 eV) from one another. For example, a silicon drift detector (SDD) element can take high counting rates (e.g., up to 1 MHz), but the SSD element suffers from incomplete charge collection issues and the energy resolution of the SDD element is about 130 eV (or about 50 eV for x-rays with low energies). By utilizing the energy resolution provided by the spatial discrimination of an x-ray detector 130 comprising an array of SDD elements (e.g., the energy resolution resulting from the x-rays 20 with different x-ray energies impinging different SDD elements across a corresponding range of positions), certain embodiments are able to provide improved energy resolution as compared to the energy resolution of the individual SDD elements.

In certain embodiments, the combination of the at least one x-ray optic 110 and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 provides improved use of limited count rates as compared to the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 alone. For example, CCD and CMOS detectors can provide energy resolutions down to about 50 eV, are only able to receive a single x-ray photon per read-out time, and typically use a thin window to prevent background contribution from visible light. Also, superconductor-based x-ray microcalorimeter detectors have high energy resolution (e.g., in a range of 1 eV to 2 eV), but are only able to take relatively low counting rates (e.g., less than 1 KHz/pixel). By reducing the amount of higher energy x-rays (e.g., x-rays with energies above 10 keV) that impinge the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130, certain embodiments advantageously reduce the fraction of the total number of counts that are due to the x-rays that are not of interest (e.g., higher energy x-rays), so a higher fraction of the limited count rate of such detector is devoted to detection of the soft and tender x-rays of interest (e.g., with energies below 5 keV).

In certain embodiments, the system 100 further comprises a means for calibrating the x-ray energy for each pixel of the pixel array (e.g., using the known x-ray spectrum of the x-rays emitted by the x-ray source). For example, the system 100 can be configured to receive the x-rays 10 emitted from an x-ray source having a known x-ray spectrum and to direct at least some of the received x-rays towards the at least one x-ray detector 130.

In certain embodiments, the system 100 is configured to have x-rays 20 in the 0.1 keV to 4 keV range impinge the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130, while in certain other embodiments, the range extends as high as 14 keV. Such x-ray energy ranges can be achieved using at least one coating on the at least one concave surface 114, the at least one coating comprising one or more layers having a mass density greater than 3 g/cm³, and the materials, thicknesses, and other parameters of the at least one coating in accordance with certain embodiments described herein are clear in view of the information provided herein. In certain embodiments, the system 100 is a component of an x-ray analysis system comprising an excitation source of radiation and/or particles (e.g., an x-ray source configured to emit x-rays; an electron source configured to emit electrons; a laboratory excitation source) that illuminate a sample (e.g., object being analyzed). In certain embodiments, the excitation source comprises an optical system (e.g., additional x-ray optics; electron optics) placed between the excitation source and the sample to direct and/or focus the radiation and/or particles onto the sample. The sample is configured to emit x-rays (e.g., fluorescence x-rays) in response to the excitation, and the emitted x-rays are received, detected, and analyzed by the system 100.

In certain embodiments, the system 100 (e.g., as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1A and FIG. 1B) is configured to collect x-rays with a larger solid angle than is possible with an energy-resolving x-ray detector 130 alone. Certain embodiments described herein advantageously reduce the number of x-rays having energies greater than a predetermined x-ray energy arriving at the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 (see, e.g., FIG. 3), thereby (i) reducing the background for fluorescence x-rays of energies lower than the predetermined x-ray energy due to incomplete charge collection of the higher energy x-rays, and (ii) avoiding detection saturation. Certain embodiments described herein advantageously allow the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector 130 to be used with a window 430 (e.g., a window 430 having a pressure differential with vacuum on one side and atmospheric pressure on the other side) that has a small area and thickness while achieving high x-ray transmission and low visible light transmission with sufficient mechanical strength (e.g., to withstand the pressure differential). Certain embodiments described herein advantageously allow the use of energy-dispersive x-ray detectors 130 (e.g., silicon drift energy-dispersive x-ray detectors) with a small detector area to achieve high energy resolution. Certain embodiments described herein advantageously allow the use of a superconductor-based colorimeter with a small area to achieve higher energy resolution and time response.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments disclosed herein are not mutually exclusive and may be combined with one another in various arrangements.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific example embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodiments are intended as illustrations, and not limitations, of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in form and detail, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. The breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the example embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An energy-resolving x-ray detection system comprising: at least one x-ray optic configured to receive x-rays having an energy bandwidth with a maximum x-ray energy, the at least one x-ray optic comprising at least one concave surface extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis, the at least one concave surface curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and configured to direct at least some of the received x-rays into at least one convergent x-ray beam having a minimum beam width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the minimum beam width at a location, the at least one concave surface having an x-ray reflectivity less than 30% for x-rays having energies greater than one-third of the maximum x-ray energy; andat least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one convergent x-ray beam, the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector comprising at least one x-ray absorbing element configured to generate detection signals indicative of energies of x-rays absorbed by the at least one x-ray absorbing element, the at least one x-ray absorbing element within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one x-ray transmissive aperture between the at least one x-ray optic and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture has a width in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is greater than the minimum beam width.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture is within a range of zero to 40 mm from the location of the minimum beam width.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture is rigidly mechanically coupled to the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one x-ray transmissive aperture comprises at least one window having a thickness in a range of 20 nm to 2 microns and comprising at least one of: diamond, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and polymer.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one window comprises at least one metallic layer having a thickness in a range of 30 nm to 200 nm and comprising at least one of: Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zr, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, La, and alloys and/or combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one concave surface has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis in a range of 3 mm to 150 mm, a width perpendicular to the length in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm, an inner diameter in a range of 1 mm to 50 mm in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a surface roughness in a range of 0.1 nm to 1 nm, and/or a plurality of surface tangent planes having a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis in a range of 0.01 radian to 0.2 radian.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one x-ray optic comprises at least one substrate and the at least one concave surface comprises at least one surface of the at least one substrate and at least one layer on or over at least a portion of the at least one surface of the at least one substrate.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one substrate comprises glass.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one layer comprises a material having a mass density greater than 3 g/cm3 and a thickness greater than 10 nm.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one layer comprises a plurality of alternating layers having a mass density difference of more than 1 g/cm3 between neighboring layers of the plurality of alternating layers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the alternating layers has a thickness in a range of 1 nm to 9 nm.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one substrate comprises a hollow axially symmetric structure and the at least one concave surface comprises an inner surface of the structure, the inner surface encircling the longitudinal axis and axially symmetric about the longitudinal axis.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one concave surface of the at least one x-ray optic extends around the longitudinal axis by an angle in a range of 45 degrees to 315 degrees.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one concave surface has a profile in a cross-sectional plane that comprises the longitudinal axis, the profile selected from the group consisting of: at least one ellipsoid; at least one paraboloid; at least one hyperboloid; a tapered cone; and a combination of two or more thereof.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the minimum beam width is less than or equal to 2 mm.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector is selected from the group consisting of: p-i-n diode x-ray detector; silicon drift x-ray detector; x-ray microcalorimeter detector; transition-edge x-ray detector.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one beam stop configured to stop x-rays that are propagating along the longitudinal axis but that do not irradiate the at least one concave surface from reaching the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector comprises at least one pixel array x-ray detector.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one pixel array x-ray detector comprises is selected from the group consisting of: direct-detection charge-coupled-device (CCD) detector; complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) detector; energy-resolving x-ray detector; indirect conversion detector comprising an x-ray scintillator; photon counting detector.

22. An energy-resolving x-ray detection system comprising: at least one x-ray optic configured to receive x-rays having a first energy bandwidth with a first maximum x-ray energy, the at least one x-ray optic comprising at least one substrate comprising a first material and at least one concave surface extending at least partially around and along a longitudinal axis, the at least one concave surface curved in at least one cross-sectional plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and configured to direct at least some of the received x-rays into at least one x-ray beam, the at least one concave surface comprising at least one layer on or over at least a portion of the at least one substrate, the at least one layer comprising a second material having a mass density greater than 3 g/cm3 and a thickness greater than 10 nm, the second material different from the first material; andat least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one x-ray beam.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one x-ray beam from the at least one x-ray optic is convergent and the at least one energy-dispersive x-ray detector is configured to receive the portion of the at least one x-ray beam at a location at which the at least one x-ray beam is diverging.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one x-ray beam has a second energy bandwidth narrower than the first energy bandwidth.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the at least one x-ray beam has a second maximum x-ray energy less than the first maximum x-ray energy.