SBIR Phase II: High-Intensity Microfocus X-Ray Fluorescence Using Monolithic Capillary Optics

* 肖 这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将开发一种用于地球化学应用的高性能微焦点X射线荧光（MXRF）仪器。 X射线荧光是一种有用的分析工具，可以对几乎任何样品进行高灵敏度的非破坏性元素分析。 目前商业MXRF系统的一个严重限制是样品上缺乏X射线强度，因为只有一小部分来自传统源的X射线可以使用针孔准直器或单电容器捕获。 第一阶段的结果表明，这种MXRF仪器，围绕一个创新的多毛细管聚焦透镜设计，可以提高测量灵敏度（10倍），速度（100倍），和空间分辨率（从100到20微米）目前的商业MXRF仪器。 第二阶段将开发一个实验室原型仪器和一个简化的系统供实地使用，并将使用各种地质样品测试性能。 性能将与目前可用的MXRF系统和电子微探针进行比较，以了解地质学家和其他工业和科学最终用户的新仪器的优势。 一个成功的MXRF将大大有利于地球化学和各种行业，包括半导体制造，环境修复和工业电镀。 它也将在科学仪器制造中得到应用。

*** Xiao This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will develop a high performance microfocus x-ray fluorescence (MXRF) instrument for geochemical applications. X-ray fluorescence is an useful analytical tool that can perform nondestructive elemental analysis on essentially any sample with high sensitivity. A serious limitation to current commercial MXRF systems is a lack of X-ray intensity on the samples because only a small fraction of the X-rays from conventional sources can be captured using pinhole collimators or monocapillaries. Phase I results show that this MXRF instrument, designed around an innovative polycapillary focusing lens, can improve measurement sensitivity (10x), speed (100x), and spatial resolution (from 100 to 20 microns) of current commercial MXRF instruments. Phase II will develop a laboratory prototype instrument and a simplified system for field use, and performance will be tested using various geological samples. Performance will be compared to currently available MXRF systems and to electron microprobes to understand the advantages of the new instrument for geologists and other end-users in industry and science. A successful MXRF would significantly benefit geochemistry and various industries, including semiconductor manufacture, environmental remediation, and industrial plating. It will also find application in scientific instrument manufacture.