Abstract: An x-ray diffractometer has an x-ray detector and an x-ray source mounted on vehicles traveling along an arc-shaped track around a sample. The vehicles move independently. Alternatively, the vehicles can move independently on separate parallel tracks.

Abstract: An x-ray diffractometer has an x-ray detector and an x-ray source mounted on vehicles traveling along an arc-shaped track around a sample. The vehicles move independently. Alternatively, the vehicles can move independently on separate parallel tracks.

Abstract: A pass-through shutter mechanism enables the semiconductor crystal of an energy dispersive x-ray detector to extend beyond the shutter mechanism for analysis, adjacent to the sample, achieving optimum solid angle collection efficiency. The shutter mechanism provides optimum protection of the semiconductor detector crystal from high energy x-ray or secondary electron events produced in the chambers of electron microscopes, microprobes, x-ray spectrometers, etc.

Abstract: An inner vessel having a truncated triangular volume is spaced from an outer housing of similar shape to form a chamber therebetween. A thermally conductive strap is connected at one end to the vessel at its other end to a cold finger tube extending into the chamber. The vessel contains liquid nitrogen and is secured in spaced relationship from the outer housing by a fiberglass liquid nitrogen fill tube. An electronic assembly for processing signals generated by the detector cooled by the cold finger are aligned with the cold finger external the dewar housing. The dewar accommodates entry port angles between zero and 60.degree. for different microscopes without physical interference with the microscope housing and attachments.