Abstract: Polarizing optical devices described herein, and polarizing optical devices resulting from methods described herein, can be small and can have high heat tolerance. Wires of wire grid polarizers can be attached directly to prisms of the polarizing optical devices, allowing for small size. Multiple polarizing optical devices can be attached by adhesive-free bonding techniques, allowing high heat tolerance.

Abstract: Each wire of a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include the following layers moving outwards from the substrate: a high-index-layer, a low-index-layer, and a reflective-layer. Each wire can have a distal-end, farthest from the substrate, with a convex shape. These layers and the convex shape can be combined for a more stable and improved Rs.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.

Abstract: An x-ray detector can be small and have efficient cooling. In one embodiment, the x-ray detector can comprise a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) with upper electrical connections, a support, a cap, and a silicon drift detector (SDD). A planar side of the support can be directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC. The support can have a non-planar side, opposite of the planar side, with a raised structure. A bottom face of the cap can be affixed to the raised structure, forming a cavity between the cap and the non-planar side of the support. The SDD can be affixed to a top face of the cap. In another embodiment, the non-planar side of the support can face the TEC. In another embodiment, a PIN photodiode can be directly affixed to a plate and the plate directly affixed to upper electrical connections of the TEC.

Abstract: An x-ray window can include a thin film that comprises boron. The thin film can be relatively thin, such as for example ?200 nm. This x-ray window can be strong; can have high x-ray transmissivity; can be impervious to gas, visible light, and infrared light; can be easy of manufacture; can be made of materials with low atomic numbers, or combinations thereof. The thin film can include an aluminum layer. A support structure can provide additional support to the thin film. The support structure can include a support frame encircling an aperture and support ribs extending across the aperture with gaps between the support ribs. The support structure can also include boron ribs aligned with the support ribs.

Abstract: An x-ray window can include an adhesive layer sandwiched between and providing a hermetic seal between a thin film and a housing. The adhesive layer can include liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer can be opaque, gas-tight, made of low atomic number elements, able to withstand high temperature, low outgassing, low leakage, able to relieve stress in the x-ray window thin film, capable of bonding to many different materials, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: It would be advantageous to improve polarizer high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, optical properties, and etchability. Composite polarizer materials can be used to achieve this. A polarizer can comprise polarization structures configured for polarization of light. The polarization structures can include a reflective rib, the reflective rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarization structures can include an absorptive rib, the absorptive rib being a composite of two different elements. The polarizer can include a transparent layer, the transparent layer being a composite of two different elements.

Abstract: A shield around an x-ray tube, a voltage multiplier, or both can improve the manufacturing process by allowing testing earlier in the process and by providing a holder for liquid potting material. The shield can also improve voltage standoff. A shielded x-ray tube can be electrically coupled to a shielded power supply.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchability, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: X-ray transparent insulation can be sandwiched between an x-ray window and a ground plate. The x-ray transparent insulation can include aluminum nitride, boron nitride, or polyetherimide. The x-ray transparent insulation can include a curved side. The x-ray transparent insulation can be transparent to x-rays and resistant to x-ray damage, and can have high thermal conductivity. An x-ray window can have high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, high melting point, low cost, and matched coefficient of thermal conductivity with the anode. The x-ray window can be made of tungsten. For consistent x-ray spot size and location, a focusing plate and a filament can be attached to a cathode with an open channel of the focusing plate aligned with a longitudinal dimension of the filament. Tabs of the focusing plate bordering the open channel can be bent to align with a location of the filament.

Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.

Abstract: An x-ray source can include an x-ray tube, and a heat sink for removal of heat from the x-ray tube. The heat sink can be thermally coupled to the anode and can extend away from the anode along a heat sink longitudinal axis. The heat sink can have a base and a fin extending from the base. The base can have a greater thickness nearer the anode, and a reduced thickness along the heat sink longitudinal axis to a smaller thickness farther from the anode.

Abstract: A method for making a wire grid polarizer (WGP) can provide WGPs with high temperature resistance, robust wires, oxidation resistance, and corrosion protection. In one embodiment, the method can comprise: (a) providing an array of wires on a bottom protection layer; (b) applying a top protection layer on the wires, spanning channels between wires; then (c) applying an upper barrier-layer on the top protection layer and into the channels through permeable junctions in the top protection layer. In a variation of this embodiment, the method can further comprise applying a lower barrier-layer before applying the top protection layer. In another variation, the bottom protection layer and the top protection layer can include aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the method can comprise applying on the WGP an amino phosphonate then a hydrophobic chemical.

Abstract: An x-ray window can include an adhesive layer sandwiched between and providing a hermetic seal between a thin film and a housing. The adhesive layer can include liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer can be opaque, gas-tight, made of low atomic number elements, able to withstand high temperature, low outgassing, low leakage, able to relieve stress in the x-ray window thin film, capable of bonding to many different materials, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An extractive system, such as SPME, has an adsorptive phase in the form of a porous coating that has essentially vertical, mutually supporting, columnar structures with nanospaces at the boundaries of the grains.

Abstract: A shield around an x-ray tube, a voltage multiplier, or both can improve the manufacturing process by allowing testing earlier in the process and by providing a holder for liquid potting material. The shield can also improve voltage standoff. A shielded x-ray tube can be electrically coupled to a shielded power supply.

Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of electrical insulation needed for voltage isolation of large voltages generated by a voltage multiplier, the voltage multiplier can be shaped to smooth out electric field gradients. The voltage multiplier can comprise multiple sections, each section located in a different plane. The voltage multiplier can comprise a negative voltage multiplier and a positive voltage multiplier, each inclined at different angles with respect to each other. The voltage multiplier can include a curved shape.

Abstract: An x-ray window can include a thin film that comprises boron. The thin film can be relatively thin, such as for example ?200 nm. This x-ray window can be strong; can have high x-ray transmissivity; can be impervious to gas, visible light, and infrared light; can be easy of manufacture; can be made of materials with low atomic numbers, or combinations thereof. The thin film can include an aluminum layer. A support structure can provide additional support to the thin film. The support structure can include a support frame encircling an aperture and support ribs extending across the aperture with gaps between the support ribs. The support structure can also include boron ribs aligned with the support ribs.

Abstract: A polarizer can have high contrast. This high contrast polarizer can be useful in applications requiring minimal leakage of an undesired polarization through the polarizer. The high contrast polarizer can include a substrate sandwiched between a reflective polarizer and an absorptive polarizer. The high contrast polarizer can include a reflective polarizer sandwiched between a substrate and an absorptive polarizer. The high contrast polarizer can include an absorptive polarizer sandwiched between reflective polarizers.

Abstract: Polarizing optical devices described herein, and polarizing optical devices resulting from methods described herein, can be small and can have high heat tolerance. Wires of wire grid polarizers can be attached directly to prisms of the polarizing optical devices, allowing for small size. Multiple polarizing optical devices can be attached by adhesive-free bonding techniques, allowing high heat tolerance.