Abstract: Electron beam spot characteristics can be tuned in each x-ray tube by moving a focusing-ring along a longitudinal-axis of the x-ray tube. The focusing-ring can then be immovably fastened to the x-ray tube. An x-ray source can include an x-ray tube and a focusing-ring. The focusing-ring can at least partially encircle an electron-emitter, a cathode, an evacuated-enclosure, or combinations thereof. The focusing-ring can be located outside of a vacuum of the evacuated enclosure. The focusing-ring can adjust an electron-beam spot on a target material of the x-ray tube when moved along a longitudinal-axis extending linearly from the electron-emitter to the target material.

Abstract: An electrostatic dissipation device 10 can comprise an elongated enclosure 11 with a longitudinal axis 12. An x-ray source 13 can be oriented to emit x-rays 16 inside of and along the longitudinal axis 12. A fluid-flow device 14 can be oriented to cause fluid to flow across the x-ray source 13 then inside of and along the longitudinal axis 12, the fluid being ionized by the x-rays 16, forming ionized fluid, then out of the elongated enclosure through outlet opening(s) 15. The arrangement of the x-ray source 13 and the fluid-flow device 14 can allow (1) fluid from the fluid-flow device 14 to cool the x-ray source 13, and (2) ion generation along the length of the elongated enclosure 11.

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 embedded wire-grid polarizer (WGP) can include ribs 13 located over a surface of a transparent substrate 11, gaps 16 between the ribs 13, and a fill-layer 15 substantially filling the gaps 16. The fill-layer can have a relatively high index of refraction, such as greater than 1.4. At a wavelength of light incident upon the WGP, E? transmission can be greater than E? transmission. E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation parallel to a length L of the ribs, and E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation perpendicular to a length L of the ribs. This embedded, inverse WGP is especially useful for polarizing, with high WGP performance, small wavelength (high-energy) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g. UV) which are difficult to polarize with conventional WGPs (E? transmission >E? transmission).

Abstract: A transmission-target x-ray tube can include an x-ray window mounted on a window-housing. The window-housing can be made of a high density material (e.g. ?12 g/cm3) with a high atomic number (e.g. ?45), and can include an aperture with an increasing-inner-diameter region, with a smaller diameter closer to the electron-emitter and a larger diameter closer to the window-mount, for blocking x-rays and electrons. An example angle in the increasing-inner-diameter region is between 15 degrees and 35 degrees. The x-ray tube can further comprise a window-cap. The x-ray window can be sandwiched between the window-housing and the window-cap. The window-cap can be made of a high density material (e.g. ?12 g/cm3) with a high atomic number (e.g. ?45) for blocking x-rays in undesirable directions, and can include an aperture for allowing x-rays to transmit in desirable directions.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can be durable and have high performance. The WGP can comprise an array of wires 13 on a substrate 11. An overcoat layer 32 can be located at distal ends of the array of wires 13 and can span channels 15 between the wires 13. A conformal-coat layer 61 can coat sides 13s and distal ends 13d of the wires 13 between the wires 13 and the overcoat layer 32. The overcoat layer can comprise aluminum oxide. An antireflection layer 33 can be located over the overcoat layer 32.

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: An x-ray tube can include an electron-emitter, which can include a tube-shape with a minimum inside diameter of at least 0.5 millimeters. The electron-emitter can provide field-emission of electrons, and thus can avoid the electrical power required for heating, and can avoid degradation due to high temperature of, a thermionic-emission electron-emitter. This type of electron-emitter, with a tube-shape, can have a relatively large electron-emission region, allowing high electrical current without excessive current density.

Abstract: An analysis system 10 can include an analysis tool 20, such as an XRF analyzer, a LIBS spectrometer, an XRD analyzer, or Raman spectroscopy equipment which can communicate wirelessly with other devices. The system 10 can also include remote-processor software configured to be loaded onto a handheld electronic device 23 and/or remote-computer software configured to be loaded onto a remote-computer 28. The analysis tool 20 can include a microphone 18 and/or an output device 31 to allow a user 19 to communicate conveniently with the analysis tool 20.

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: The wire grid polarizer (WGP) comprises an array of parallel, elongated nanostructures located over a surface of a transparent substrate and a plurality of spaces, including a space between adjacent nanostructures. Each of the nanostructures can include (1) a plurality of parallel, elongated wires located on the substrate, including an inner-pair located between an outer-pair; (2) lateral-gaps between each wire of the outer-pair and an adjacent wire of the inner-pair; (3) and a center-gap between the two wires of the inner-pair.

Abstract: A cube polarizing beam splitter (PBS) can have one or more of the following characteristics: high contrast (Tp/Ts), acceptance of a large range of incident angles, broadband, and symmetry. The cube PBS can include a pair of wire-grid polarizers sandwiched between a first prism and a second prism. There can be a boundary layer between the wire-grid polarizers. An optical path length of a transmitted beam can be equal or very close to an optical path length of a reflected beam.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have improved performance due to a high aspect ratio (e.g. >3, >5, >10, >15, >20, or >30), where aspect ratio equals T/W, T is a sum of a thickness of wires of the first array 11 plus a thickness of wires of the second array 12 (i.e. T=Th11+Th12), and W is a maximum width of wires of the first array 11 and/or of the second array 12. Such high aspect ratio can be achieved with two arrays of wires 11 and 12, each capped by a thin film 01 and 02.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) 10 can include a reflective layer 15 sandwiched on each side by a pair of transparent layers (11-12 and 13-14). An index of refraction of each outer transparent layer 11 or 14 can be greater than an index of refraction of the adjacent inner transparent layer 12 or 13, respectively. Material composition of the outer transparent layers 11 and 14 can be the same, material composition of the adjacent inner transparent layers 12 and 13 can be the same. There can be high reflection of one polarization (e.g. Rs1>93% and Rs2>93%) for light incident on either side of the WGP.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) 10 can include wires 15 sandwiched between a first pair of thin-film layers 21 (with a first transparent layer 11 and a second transparent layer 12) and a second pair of thin-film layers 22 (with a third transparent layer 13 and a fourth transparent layer 14). An index of refraction of each outer transparent layer 11 and 14 can be greater than an index of refraction of the adjacent inner transparent layer 12 and 13, respectively. Material composition of the outer transparent layers 11 and 14 can be the same and material composition of the adjacent inner transparent layers 12 and 13 can be the same. There can be high reflection of one polarization (e.g. Rs1>93% and Rs2>93%) for light incident on either side of the WGP. The wires 15 can be embedded for protection.

Abstract: Cube polarizers can be designed for substantially equal optical path lengths of a reflected beam and a transmitted beam. For example, d11 of FIG. 1 can define a distance between a plane (face plane2) of the outer face (outer face2) of a second prism 16 and the first edge (first edge1) of the first prism, and d11 can be less than 400 micrometers. As another example, an optical path length differential between a transmitted beam and a reflected beam (|OPLT?OPLR|) can be < 0.5 * t * n p 2 ; where t is a thickness of the substrate between the first surface and the second surface of the substrate and np is an index of refraction of the first prism.

Abstract: Improved heat transfer from an x-ray tube can be accomplished with a heatsink surrounding at least part of an x-ray tube. The heatsink can be electrically connected to an anode of the x-ray tube and can be an electrical current path. The heatsink can include a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the x-ray tube and can be a single, integral substance extending from an inner-surface of the heatsink to a distal-end of the protrusions.

Abstract: An embedded, inverse wire-grid polarizer (WGP) includes ribs 13 located over a surface of a transparent substrate 11, gaps 16 between the ribs 13, and a fill-layer 15 substantially filling the gaps 16. The fill-layer has a relatively high index of refraction, such as greater than 1.4. At a wavelength of light incident upon the WGP, E? transmission can be greater than E? transmission. E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation parallel to a length L of the ribs, and E? is a polarization of light with an electric field oscillation perpendicular to a length L of the ribs. This embedded, inverse WGP is especially useful for polarizing, with high WGP performance, small wavelength (high-energy) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g. UV) which are difficult to polarize with conventional WGPs (E? transmission>E? transmission).

Abstract: An XRF analyzer can include an x-ray source and an x-ray detector; an x-ray source heat-sink adjacent a side of the x-ray source; and an x-ray detector heat-sink adjacent a side of the x-ray detector. In one embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 20 W/(m*K). In another embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by at least 3 millimeters of a thermally insulating material. In one embodiment, the x-ray source heat-sink can be separated from the x-ray detector heat sink by a segment of the engine component casing. Separation of the heat sinks can help avoid heat from the x-ray source adversely affecting resolution of the x-ray detector.

Abstract: Improved heat transfer from an x-ray tube can be accomplished with a heatsink surrounding at least part of an x-ray tube. The heatsink can be electrically connected to an anode of the x-ray tube and can be an electrical current path. The heatsink can include a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the x-ray tube and can be a single, integral substance extending from an inner-surface of the heatsink to a distal-end of the protrusions.