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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples
Published on: June 19, 2018
Fast imaging of hard x rays with a laboratory microscope
A S Bakulin1, S M Durbin, T Jach
1Department of Physics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1396, USA.
A new laboratory X-ray microscope offers enhanced microstructural analysis using a CCD detector and Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors. This system achieves 4-micrometer resolution with hard X-rays, enabling detailed material investigations.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- X-ray Optics
- Microscopy
Background:
- Laboratory-based microstructural analysis is crucial for materials science.
- High-resolution imaging with hard X-rays presents significant technical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and evaluate an improved laboratory X-ray microscope.
- To achieve high spatial resolution for microstructural investigations using hard X-rays.
Main Methods:
- Construction of an X-ray microscope utilizing a fully electronic Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) detector system.
- Implementation of the Kirkpatrick-Baez multilayer mirror design for X-ray focusing.
- Testing with standard sealed-tube laboratory X-ray sources and a 5-micrometer gold grid sample.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated spatial resolution of 4 micrometers at 8 keV (Cu K-alpha radiation).
- Successful operation with standard laboratory X-ray sources.
- Achieved digital images with exposure times as short as 20 seconds for a sample of two absorption lengths.
Conclusions:
- The developed X-ray microscope provides an effective tool for laboratory-based microstructural investigations.
- The system offers a practical solution for high-resolution imaging with hard X-rays in a laboratory setting.
- The combination of CCD detection and Kirkpatrick-Baez optics enables efficient and detailed material characterization.
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