Refractive X-ray arrangement

A refractive X-ray lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which said X-rays received at said first end, emerge and first and second surfaces wherein said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially sawtooth formed triangular grooves disposed between at least part of said first end and second end, on at least one of said first and second surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point.

A method for fabricating a sawtooth triangular profile refractive X-ray lens wherein transferring shapes of triangular grooves onto a carrier by means of an engraving arrangement is performed, producing a master, and using said master for pressing grooves on a suitable material.

A refractive arrangement for X-rays comprising:

• a member of low-Z material, said member of low-Z material having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end, and first and second surfaces characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of substantially sawtooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said first or second surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said member of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, further characterized in that said pluralities of grooves have varying sizes, decreasing or increasing continuously from said first end towards said second end.

A refractive X-ray lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end and first and second surfaces, characterized in that said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially saw-tooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said at least two surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, further characterized in that the lens comprises of two volumes arranged such that the surfaces with the plurality of grooves are facing each other, further characterized in that said two volumes each have a tilt angle relative to an optical axis of said X-ray.

A refractive X-ray lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end and first and second surfaces, characterized in that said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially saw-tooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said at least two surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, further characterized in that the lens comprises of two volumes arranged such that the surfaces with the plurality of grooves are facing each other, further characterized in that said volumes have non-coincident focal points.

An X-ray system for two-dimensional focusing of X-rays and including at least two refractive X-ray lenses, each lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end and first and second surfaces, characterized in that said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially saw-tooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said at least two surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, characterized in that the focusing is obtained by arranging said at least two lenses, such that each X-ray traverses both of lenses in sequence and that one of said at least two lenses is rotated around an optical axis with respect to the other lens.

A method of providing two-dimensional focusing by using two saw-tooth profile refractive X-ray lenses, each lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end and first and second surfaces, characterized in that said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially saw-tooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said at least two surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, such that each X-ray will traverse both of them in sequence and such that the said second saw-tooth profile refractive X-ray lens is rotated around ab optical axis with respect to the said first saw-tooth profile refractive X-ray lens.

A refractive X-ray lens comprising:

• a volume of low-Z material, said volume having a first end adapted to receive X-rays emitted from an X-ray source and a second end from which emerge said X-rays received at said first end and first and second surfaces, characterized in that said volume further comprises a plurality of substantially saw-tooth formed grooves disposed between said first and second ends on at least one of said at least two surfaces, said plurality of grooves oriented such that said X-rays which are received at said first end, pass through said volume of low-Z material and said plurality of grooves, and emerge from said second end, are refracted to a focal point, further characterized in that said refractive lens is coupled to at least one second commercial-grade compound refractive X-ray lens such that an array of compound refractive X-ray lenses is formed.