The kumakhov lens: Prospects for x-ray microanalysis

Abstract

A new optical system based on multiple reflection of X-rays and neutrons along specially shaped solid surfaces first proposed by Kumakhov has undergone intense and rapid development in the USSR and more recently in a joint development effort between the Institute for Roentgen Optical Systems (IROS) in Moscow, Russia, and the Center for X-Ray Optics (CXO) in Albany, NY. The most used X-ray Optical System (XOS) utilizes thin hollow microcapillary tubes arranged appropriately to capture X-rays from a divergent source to produce a quasiparallel beam or a focussed beam as shown schematically in Figure 1. Alternatively, a parallel beam of X-rays (or neutrons) can be deflected or focused. It is also possible to use such systems for energy filtering or energy selection.The first such systems were constructed from single hollow capillaries and showed that X-rays could indeed be captured and focussed as shown in Figure 2. These "first generation" Kumakhov optics are most efficient for relatively low energy X-rays (0.5-2 keV).