Compound refractive X-ray lens

A split-compound refractive X-ray lens comprising:

• A first half of a split-compound refractive X-ray lens, said first half further comprising:
• a volume of low-Z material, said volume of low-Z material having a top surface that receives X-rays emitted from an X-ray source, said volume of low-Z material having a bottom surface from which emerge said X-rays received at said top surface, and a side surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface from which emerge said X-rays received at said top surface, and a first plurality of indentations formed in said side surface, said plurality of indentations disposed between said top surface and said bottom surface, said plurality of indentations oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said top surface, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of indentations, and emerge from said bottom surface are refracted to a first focal point;
• and a second half of said split-compound refractive X-ray lens, said second half further comprising:
• a volume of low-Z material, said volume of low-Z material having a top surface adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source, said volume of low-Z material having a bottom surface adapted to emit said X-rays received at said top surface, and a side surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface;
• and a second plurality of indentations formed in said side surface, said plurality of indentations disposed between said top surface and said bottom surface, said plurality of indentations oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said top surface, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of indentations, and emerge from said bottom surface are refracted to a second focal point, said first and second focal points being the same point, the shape of said first plurality of indentations being sufficiently different from the shape of said second plurality of indentations, so as to create separate and distinct energy levels for x-rays passing through said first half of the split-compound refractive x-ray lens, and for x-rays passing through said second half of said split-compound refractive x-ray lens.

A method for forming a split-compound refractive X-ray lens, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a first half of a split-compound refractive X-ray lens, said first half of said split-compound refractive X-ray lens having a first focal length, said method for forming said first half further comprising the steps of:
• a1) forming a volume of low-Z material with a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source, said bottom surface adapted to emit said X-rays received at said top surface;
• and
• a2) forming a plurality of indentations in a side surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said plurality of indentations being formed such that said X-rays which are received at said top surface, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of indentations, are emitted from said bottom surface, and are refracted to a first focal point, and
• b) forming a second half of a split-compound refractive X-ray lens, said second half of said split-compound refractive X-ray lens having a second focal length, said method for forming said second half further comprising the steps of:
• b1) forming a volume of low-Z material with a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source, said bottom surface being adapted to emit said X-rays received at said top surface;
• and
• b2) forming a plurality of indentations in a side surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said plurality of indentations formed such that said X-rays which are received at said top surface, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of indentations, are emitted from said bottom surface and are refracted to a second focal point, said first and second focal points being the same point the shape of said first plurality of indentations being sufficiently different from the shape of said second plurality of indentations, so as to create separate and distinct energy levels 1) for x-rays passing through said first half of the split-compound refractive x-rays lens, and 2) for x-rays passing through said second half of said split-compound refractive x-ray lens.