Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping film thickness of textured polycrystalline thin films. Multiple sample films of known thicknesses are provided, and each is irradiated by x-ray at a measurement point to generate a diffraction image that captures a plurality of diffraction arcs. Texture information (i.e., pole densities) of each sample film is calculated based on multiple incomplete pole figures collected from the diffraction image and used to correct the x-ray diffraction intensities obtained from such sample film. Corrected and integrated diffraction intensities of the sample films are then correlated to respective known film thicknesses of such films, and the correlation so determined can be used to map the film thickness of a textured polycrystalline thin film of unknown thickness, based on the corrected and integrated diffraction intensity calculated for such thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid grain size analysis on a textured polycrystalline material, by generating average grain size and grain size distribution data from x-ray diffraction data of such material. Raw diffraction data is obtained by capturing a plurality of diffraction arcs within a single data capture frame. The raw diffraction data is digitally registered; (3) and the registered diffraction data is filtered to remove background noise, exclude diffraction overlaps or truncations, and compensate for biased data obtained from regions of highly preferred orientations. Average grain size and grain size distribution data are then correlated with the filtered diffraction data. The apparatus for acquiring raw diffraction data includes a collimated x-ray source having means for adjusting beam size and divergence of the x-ray generated, a 2-dimensional area detector for registering diffracted x-ray, and a sample motion assembly for moving the sample in the sample plane.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping film thickness of one or more textured polycrystalline thin films. Multiple sample films of known thickness are provided. Each sample film is irradiated by x-ray at a measurement point to generate a diffraction image that captures a plurality of diffraction arcs. Texture information (i.e., pole densities) of the sample film, is calculated based on incomplete pole figures collected on the diffraction image and used to correct the x-ray diffraction intensities from such sample. The corrected diffraction intensities are integrated for each sample film, and then used for constructing a calibration curve that correlates diffraction intensities with respective known film thickness of the sample films. The film thickness of a textured polycrystalline thin film of unknown thickness can therefore be mapped on such calibration curve, using a corrected and integrated diffraction intensity obtained for such thin film of unknown thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping film thickness of textured polycrystalline thin films. Multiple sample films of known thicknesses are provided, and each is irradiated by x-ray at a measurement point to generate a diffraction image that captures a plurality of diffraction arcs. Texture information (i.e., pole densities) of each sample film is calculated based on multiple incomplete pole figures collected from the diffraction image and used to correct the x-ray diffraction intensities obtained from such sample film. Corrected and integrated diffraction intensities of the sample films are then correlated to respective known film thicknesses of such films, and the correlation so determined can be used to map the film thickness of a textured polycrystalline thin film of unknown thickness, based on the corrected and integrated diffraction intensity calculated for such thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping film thickness of one or more textured polycrystalline thin films. Multiple sample films of known thickness are provided. Each sample film is irradiated by x-ray at a measurement point to generate a diffraction image that captures a plurality of diffraction arcs. Texture information (i.e., pole densities) of the sample film, is calculated based on incomplete pole figures collected on the diffraction image and used to correct the x-ray diffraction intensities from such sample. The corrected diffraction intensities are integrated for each sample film, and then used for constructing a calibration curve that correlates diffraction intensities with respective known film thickness of the sample films. The film thickness of a textured polycrystalline thin film of unknown thickness can therefore be mapped on such calibration curve, using a corrected and integrated diffraction intensity obtained for such thin film of unknown thickness.

Abstract: A method for quantitatively determining the phase composition of a sample mixture that comprises two or more textured polycrystalline materials, based on corrected and integrated x-ray diffraction intensities. The effect of texture has been analytically eliminated from such corrected and integrated x-ray diffraction intensities, based on the texture information obtained from the sample mixture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid grain size analysis on a textured polycrystalline material, by generating average grain size and grain size distribution data from x-ray diffraction data of such material. Raw diffraction data is obtained by capturing a plurality of diffraction arcs within a single data capture frame. The raw diffraction data is digitally registered; (3) and the registered diffraction data is filtered to remove background noise, exclude diffraction overlaps or truncations, and compensate for biased data obtained from regions of highly preferred orientations. Average grain size and grain size distribution data are then correlated with the filtered diffraction data. The apparatus for acquiring raw diffraction data includes a collimated x-ray source having means for adjusting beam size and divergence of the x-ray generated, a 2-dimensional area detector for registering diffracted x-ray, and a sample motion assembly for moving the sample in the sample plane.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing rapid, high-resolution polycrystalline crystallographic texture analysis, by calculating an Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) from partial pole figures obtained from x-ray diffraction measurements on large samples, e.g., 200 millimeter diameter wafers. The measurement apparatus includes a 2-D area x-ray detector and a collimated x-ray source arranged in a specific, fixed spatial relationship dependant on the properties of the sample to be measured, and also includes a particular wafer motion assembly. The wafer motion assembly includes three mutually orthogonal rectilinear translation stages, and a &phgr; rotation stage mounted thereon, as an uppermost motion stage, with its range restricted to 180° of rotation.

Abstract: A uniform surface current density is approximated in an RF transmitting/receiving NMR coil by employing a plurality of discrete conductors having a resonantly distributed current. Inductive and capacitive lines provide a sinusoidal current distribution with various resonant modes providing different magnetic field orientations. The distributed current reduces losses. In a second order resonant mode, decoupling of the surface coil from a transmit coil is achieved without a blocking network.

Abstract: An NMR zeugmatographic scanner is modified to provide motion images, During each measurement cycle the paramagnetic nuclei are subjected to a pair of transverse excitation field pulses which are separated by the application of a bi-polar magnetic field gradient which sensitizes the resulting FID signal to motion. The resulting FID signal is processed using an inverse Fourier transformation to produce images of flowing paramagnetic nuclei.

Abstract: An NMR blood flowmeter applies a continuous transverse excitation signal and a constant, homogeneous polarizing magnetic field to blood flowing through an active region. The polarizing magnetic field is contoured at opposite boundaries of this active region, and by switching these contours and collecting the resulting NMR signals, data is obtained from which the various components of blood flow may be calculated.

Abstract: An NMR zeugmatographic scanner is modified to provide flow images. A motion sensitizing, bi-phasic excitation field gradient is applied during each measurement cycle to produce transverse magnetization in paramagnetic nuclei which are moving in the direction of the gradient. The resulting free induction signal is processed using an inverse Fourier transformation to produce images of flowing paramagnetic nuclei.

Abstract: An NMR zeugmatographic scanner is modified to produce flow images. A motion sensitizing gradient field is applied to the gyromagnetic nuclei after transverse excitation and prior to emission measurement. The motion sensitized free induction signal which results is processed using an inverse Fourier transformation to produce a number of useful images.

Abstract: A thermoluminescent phosphor comprising LiF doped with boron and magnesium is produced by diffusion of boron into a conventional LiF phosphor doped with magnesium. Where the boron dopant is made to penetrate only the outer layer of the phosphor, it can be used to detect shallowly penetrating radiation such as tritium beta ays in the presence of a background of more penetrating radiation.

Abstract: A thermoluminescent phosphor comprising LiF doped with boron and magnesium is produced by diffusion of boron into a conventional LiF phosphor doped with magnesium. Where the boron dopant is made to penetrate only the outer layer of the phosphor, it can be used to detect shallowly penetrating radiation such as tritium beta rays in the presence of a background of more penetrating radiation.

Abstract: A dosimetry technique for high-energy gamma radiation or X-radiation employs the Compton effect in conjunction with radiation-induced thermally activated depolarization phenomena. A dielectric material is disposed between two electrodes which are electrically short circuited to produce a dosimeter which is then exposed to the gamma or X radiation. The gamma or X-radiation impinging on the dosimeter interacts with the dielectric material directly or with the metal composing the electrode to produce Compton electrons which are emitted preferentially in the direction in which the radiation was traveling. A portion of these electrons becomes trapped in the dielectric material, consequently inducing a stable electrical polarization in the dielectric material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for tritium dosimetry. A dosimeter comprising a thin film of a material having relatively sensitive RITAC-RITAP dosimetry properties is exposed to radiation from tritium, and after the dosimeter has been removed from the source of the radiation, the low energy electron dose deposited in the thin film is determined by radiation-induced, thermally-activated polarization dosimetry techniques.

Abstract: A dosimeter having a dielectric material such as sapphire wherein the efficiency as measured by mean drift distance and trapping efficiency is increased by making use of a dielectric material in which the total active impurity does not exceed 50 ppm and in which any one active impurity does not exceed 10 ppm.

Abstract: An NMR zeugmatographic scanner is modified to produce flow images. A motion sensitizing gradient field is applied to the gyromagnetic nuclei after transverse excitation and prior to emission measurement. The motion sensitized free induction signal which results is processed using an inverse Fourier transformation to produce a number of useful images.