X-ray source for x-ray microfluorescence using a monolithic x-ray focusing lens combined with aperture optics

A monolithic x-ray focusing lens can focus divergent x-rays from a conventional x-ray tube into 110 mu m microbeam. A gain factor of more than 1200 compared with an aperture without the lens has been achieved. Using a monolithic x-ray focusing lens combined with aperture optics, a 50 mu m microbeam with sufficient intensity has been obtained, The detection limit for Mn by means of the x-rag microbeam source is approximately 1 x 10(-12) g when a 1.5 W x-ray tube power and a 1000 s measurement time are employed. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.