Study of the monolithic x-ray focusing lens and its application in microbeam x-ray fluorescence analysis

A model of theoretical simulations of a monolithic x-ray focusing lens is d escribed. These calculations are compared with experimental measurements of the lens. For the Mo K alpha line, a measured focal spot diameter of lens were about 30 mu m. Compared with an aperture of equivalent size located at the output focal distance without the lens, a power density gain of about 1500 was obtained. The application of the lens in microbeam x-ray fluoresce nce analysis reduced the minimum detection limits for transition elements d own to the 10(-13) g level. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.