US4429411A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument and method for focusing X-rays, gamma rays and neutrons
Assignee: ENERGY United States, Department of
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Filing: 1982-03-25
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Granted: 1984-01-31
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Expires: 2002-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A crystal diffraction instrument or diffraction grating instrument with an improved crystalline structure or grating spacing structure having a face for receiving a beam of photons or neutrons and diffraction planar spacing or grating spacing along that face with the spacing increasing progressively along the face to provide a decreasing Bragg diffraction angle for a monochromatic radiation and thereby increasing the usable area and acceptance angle. The increased planar spacing for the diffraction crystal is provided by the use of a temperature differential across the crystalline structure, by assembling a plurality of crystalline structures with different compositions, by an individual crystalline structure with a varying composition and thereby a changing planar spacing along its face, and by combinations of these techniques. The increased diffraction grating element spacing is generated during the fabrication of the diffraction grating by controlling the cutting tool that is cutting the grooves or controlling the laser beam, electron beam or ion beam that is exposing the resist layer, etc. It is also possible to vary this variation in grating spacing by applying a thermal gradient to the diffraction grating in much the same manner as is done in the crystal diffraction case.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert K. Smither
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:59
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K1/00; G21K1/06; G21K2201/00; G21K2201/06; G21K2201/062; G21K2201/064; G21K2201/068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A crystal diffraction instrument comprising means for diffracting a beam having an energy of above about 5 KeV, including a crystalline structure with a surface having a face for receiving the beam and atomic planar spacing along the face for diffracting the beam, the spacing changing progressively along a direction parallel to said face to provide Bragg angles of progressively changing values to increase the usable area of said face for diffraction and to provide a focusing of said beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A crystal diffraction instrument comprising means for diffracting a beam having an energy of above about 5 KeV, including a crystalline structure with a surface having a face for receiving the beam and atomic planar spacing along the face for diffracting the beam, the spacing changing progressively along a direction parallel to said face to provide Bragg angles of progressively changing values to increase the usable area of said face for diffraction and to provide a focusing of said beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the instrument includes means for admitting a beam from a source and means for detecting the diffracted and focused beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 2 wherein said means for diffracting the beam includes means for focusing a parallel beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said instrument means for applying a temperature gradient across said crystalline structure in a direction parallel to said face, said gradient being sufficient to provide said progressive change in the range of about 0.1 %-5.0% in said spacing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said crystalline structure is composed of a differing composition across said structure in a direction parallel to said face to provide said progressive change in said spacing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said crystalline structure comprises a plurality of separate structures arranged to form said face, each structure having a different composition with a different atomic planar spacing to provide said progressive change in said spacing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 4 wherein said crystalline structure is composed of a differing composition along said face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The instrument of claim 4 wherein said temperature gradient is at least 50° C./cm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said structure has a thickness and the atomic planes separating said spacings extend across said thickness for transmission type diffraction of said beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The instrument of claim 9 wherein said face is in a convex shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 9 wherein said instrument includes means for admitting a beam from a source and means for detecting the diffracted and focused beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 11 wherein said instrument includes means for applying a temperature gradient across said crystalline structure in a direction parallel to said face, said gradient being sufficient to provide said progressive change in the range of about 0.1%-5.0% in said spacing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 11 wherein said crystalline structure is composed of a differing composition across said structure in a direction parallel to said face to provide said progressive change in said spacing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the atomic planes separating said spacings extend in a direction parallel to said face for reflection type diffraction of said beam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The instrument of claim 14 wherein said face is in a concave shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 14 wherein the instrument includes means for admitting a beam from a source and means for detecting the diffracted and focused beam with said face being in a concave shape and of unequal distances from said source and detecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein said instrument includes means for applying a temperature gradient across said crystalline structure in a direction parallel to said face, said gradient being sufficient to provide said progressive change in the range of about 0.1%-5.0% in said spacing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein said crystalline structure is composed of a differing composition across said structure in a direction parallel to said face to provide said progressive change in said spacing.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of conducting crystal diffraction with respect to a beam of having an energy above about 5 KeV, comprising the steps of (1) providing a crystalline structure having a face for receiving the beam and atomic planar spacing along said length with the spacing progressively changing across said structure in a direction parallel to said face to progressively change the corresponding Bragg angles and provide a focusing of said beam, (2) directing said beam to said periodic structure to provide a diffracted and focused beam, and (3) detecting the diffracted beam at a focusing position.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of conducting crystal diffraction with respect to a beam of having an energy above about 5 KeV, comprising the steps of (1) providing a crystalline structure having a face for receiving the beam and atomic planar spacing along said length with the spacing progressively changing across said structure in a direction parallel to said face to progressively change the corresponding Bragg angles and provide a focusing of said beam, (2) directing said beam to said periodic structure to provide a diffracted and focused beam, and (3) detecting the diffracted beam at a focusing position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing the crystalline structure includes the step of progressively changing the spacing without substantially increasing mechanical stresses in said structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing the crystalline structure includes the step of applying a temperature gradient across the structure in a direction parallel to said face, said gradient being sufficient to provide said progressive change in the range of about 0.1%-5.0%.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said temperature gradient is at least 50° C./cm.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 including the step of changing the atomic planar spacing in said crystalline structure to change the selection of energies of a beam for diffraction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-30 | 1987-08-01 | 1988-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-30 | 1991-08-01 | 1992-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-30 | 1995-08-01 | 1996-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |