Abstract: A compact, low-cost system for the detection of counterfeit or sub-potency pharmaceuticals is implemented by use of a low power X-ray source, an incident collimator containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, receiving collimators containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, additional collimators to limit tangential divergence and a single, near room temperature energy dispersive detector that sums the plurality of diffracted x-ray beams. In this system, the tradeoff between spectral resolving power and the diffracted intensity is eliminated. Also provided are methods to determine the optimal diffraction angle for a given test material, determine the instrument geometry and design parameters, and assess the system performance and sensitivity to alignment errors.

Abstract: A compact, low-cost system for the detection of counterfeit or sub-potency pharmaceuticals is implemented by use of a low power X-ray source, an incident collimator containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, receiving collimators containing a series of concentric, non-parallel slits, additional collimators to limit tangential divergence and a single, near room temperature energy dispersive detector that sums the plurality of diffracted x-ray beams. In this system, the tradeoff between spectral resolving power and the diffracted intensity is eliminated. Also provided are methods to determine the optimal diffraction angle for a given test material, determine the instrument geometry and design parameters, and assess the system performance and sensitivity to alignment errors.