Polarized, energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence system and method

A method of fabricating a polarized x-ray fluorescence system, the method comprising:

• providing a titanium x-ray source, the titanium x-ray source comprising a titanium target on which electrons impinge to generate a diverging x-ray beam with a titanium-based characteristic energy;
• positioning a focusing, doubly-curved LiF crystal optic relative to the titanium x-ray source to monochromate and focus the diverging x-ray beam from the titanium x-ray source to provide a monochromated and focused x-ray excitation beam directed to impinge on a sample;
• wherein the focusing, doubly-curved LiF crystal optic and the titanium x-ray source are positioned relative to each other within the polarized x-ray fluorescence system to polarize the x-ray excitation beam;
• providing a detector to receive fluorescence from the sample induced by the polarized x-ray excitation beam impinging thereon, the fluorescence being indicative of a concentration of at least one element in the sample;
• and
• positioning a center axis of the detector relative to a plane of the titanium x-ray source, doubly-curved crystal optic and sample within an angle in the range of 85° to 95°.