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.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have a conformal-coating to protect the WGP from at least one of the following: corrosion, dust, and damage due to tensile forces in a liquid on the WGP. The conformal-coating can include a silane conformal-coating with chemical formula (1), chemical formula (2), or combinations thereof: A method of applying a conformal-coating over a WGP can include exposing the WGP to Si(R1)d(R2)e(R3)g. In the above WGP and method, X can be a bond to the ribs; each R1 can be a hydrophobic group; each R3, if any, can be any chemical element or group; d can be 1, 2, or 3, e can be 1, 2, or 3, g can be 0, 1, or 2, and d+e+g=4; R2 can be a silane-reactive-group; and each R6 can be an alkyl group, an aryl group, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of vapor depositing a silane chemical onto a wire grid polarizer can include introducing a silane chemical and water into a chamber where the wire grid polarizer is located. The silane chemical and the water can be in a gaseous phase in the chamber. The silane chemical and the water can be maintained simultaneously in the gaseous phase in the chamber for period of time. The silane chemical and the water can react to form a (R1)2Si(OH)2 molecule, where each R1 is independently any chemical element or group. A silane coating can be formed on the wire grid polarizer from a chemical reaction of the (R1)2Si(OH)2 molecule with the wire grid polarizer and with other (R1)2Si(OH)2 molecules. The silane coating can be relatively thick and multi-layer. A thicker or multi-layer silane coating can have improved high temperature resistance relative to a thinner or mono-layer silane coating.

Abstract: An x-ray tube anode can include an electron hole extending from an electron entry at an exterior of the anode into a core of the anode, and an x-ray hole extending from an x-ray exit at the exterior of the anode into the core of the anode. The x-ray hole can intersect the electron hole at the core of the anode. In one embodiment, the electron hole and the x-ray hole can form a seamless bore from the electron entry to the x-ray exit. In another embodiment, the anode can be a single, integral, monolithic material with a single bore extending therethrough. In another embodiment, the core of the anode can include a target material located at a concave wall of the core of the anode.

Abstract: A cube wire grid polarizer or an embedded wire grid polarizer can include an adhesive-free, direct bond between the wire grid polarizer and piece(s) of glass. Consequently, index of refraction mismatch can be avoided and the polarizer can have improved high temperature tolerance. The polarizer can include multiple layers over the wire grid polarizer, with the top of these layers polished, then directly bonded to the piece of glass. Material of the top layer can be selected such that thickness of this layer is not critical, thus allowing polishing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an x-ray tube 15 can be used closer to a sample. An angle A1 between an anode axis 02 and an electron-beam axis 01 can be ?10° and ?80° and an angle A2 between the anode axis 02 and an x-ray axis 03 can be ?10° and ?80°. In another embodiment, a cap 20 on an anode 12 can block x-rays emitted in undesired directions. The cap 20 can include an internal cavity 24, an electron-beam hole 21, an anode hole 22, and an x-ray hole 23. In another embodiment, an electrical connection between an x-ray tube 15 and a power supply 18 can be reliable and easy to manufacture. The anode 12 can include a hole 31 at an end of the anode 12 sized and shaped for insertion of an electrical connector 32.

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: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can have low transmission of a primarily reflected/absorbed polarization (e.g. low Ts). The WGP can comprise an array of wires on a substrate and a stack of thin films between the substrate and the array of wires. The stack of thin films can include a first layer closest to the substrate, a second layer over the first layer, and a third layer over the second layer and closest to the array of wires. An index of refraction of the first layer can be greater than an index of refraction of the substrate, an index of refraction of the second layer can be greater than the index of refraction of the first layer, and an index of refraction of the third layer can be less than the index of refraction of the first layer.

Abstract: A mounted x-ray window can be strong and transmissive to x-rays, can have a hermetic seal, and can withstand high temperatures. The mounted x-ray window can include a film located on an inner-side of a flange of a housing and can be attached to the flange by a ring of elastic adhesive. The film can comprise silicon nitride. A method of mounting an x-ray window can include placing a ring of elastic adhesive on an inner-side of a flange of a housing, placing a film on the ring of elastic adhesive, and baking the housing, the ring of elastic adhesive, and the film.

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: In one embodiment, an x-ray tube 15 can be used closer to a sample. An angle A1 between an anode axis 02 and an electron-beam axis 01 can be ?10° and ?80° and an angle A2 between the anode axis 02 and an x-ray axis 03 can be ?10° and ?80°. In another embodiment, a cap 20 on an anode 12 can block x-rays emitted in undesired directions. The cap 20 can include an internal cavity 24, an electron-beam hole 21, an anode hole 22, and an x-ray hole 23. In another embodiment, an electrical connection between an x-ray tube 15 and a power supply 18 can be reliable and easy to manufacture. The anode 12 can include a hole 31 at an end of the anode 12 sized and shaped for insertion of an electrical connector 32.

Abstract: An x-ray source can have a reduced voltage gradient and a consistent voltage gradient, thus allowing less insulation, reduced arcing failure, or both. The x-ray source can comprise a bipolar voltage multiplier and an x-ray tube. The bipolar voltage multiplier can include a negative voltage multiplier and a positive voltage multiplier. An axis extending from an input voltage of the negative voltage multiplier to a negative output bias voltage defines a negative axis. An axis extending from an input voltage of the positive voltage multiplier to a positive output bias voltage defines a positive axis. An angle A1 between the negative axis and the positive axis can be selected for optimal voltage gradient.

Abstract: An x-ray source can include a housing with material with an atomic number of ?42 and a thermal conductivity of ?3 W/(m*K) to assist in removing heat from the x-ray source and to block x-rays emitted in undesirable directions. An x-ray source can include a shell that is electrically conductive and that encloses at least part of a voltage multiplier without enclosing a control circuit to minimize or eliminate electromagnetic interference in the control circuitry caused by the voltage multiplier. An x-ray source can include a negative voltage multiplier, a positive voltage multiplier, and a ground plane between the negative voltage multiplier and the positive voltage multiplier. The ground plane can minimize or eliminate electromagnetic interference between the negative voltage multiplier and the positive voltage multiplier. An air-filled channel, associated with the ground plane, can reduce weight of the x-ray source.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer and method of making a wire grid polarizer can protect delicate wires of the wire grid polarizer from damage. The wire grid polarizer can include a protective-layer located on an array of wires. The array of wires can further be protected by a chemical coating on an inside surface of the air-filled channels, closed ends of the air-filled channels, damaged wires of the array of wires in a line parallel to an edge of the wire grid polarizer, or combinations thereof. The method can include (i) providing the wire grid polarizer, (ii) applying the protective-layer, by physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition but excluding atomic layer deposition, onto the array of wires, (iii) cutting the wire grid polarizer wafer into multiple wire grid polarizer parts, then (iv) protecting the array of wires.