Large Area X-ray Lenses for Directed-Energy, Sensing, and Imaging Applications

"This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop large-area refractive x-ray lenses for medical, industrial, scientific, and directed-energy applications. In prior research and development, Adelphi Technology Inc. has developed compoundrefractive lenses (CRLs) that can focus and collimate hard x-rays. These lenses have very small apertures (< 1 mm) and are, therefore, limited in many applications. We propose to develop inexpensive lenses with unlimited aperture sizes capable ofoperating at x-ray wavelengths where medical and industrial applications abound. These lenses will have advantages of larger collection area, higher gain, and better resolution than previous compound refractive lenses. They will permit the imaging oflayers at selected depths in objects unlike conventional radiography, which only produces only a shadow of the complete object. The proposed technology relies on well-documented techniques used in visible optics and, thus, has a high likelihood of success.The geometry, methods of fabrication and lens materials will be explored. A prototype lens system will be designed, fabricated, and tested. The development of x-ray lenses capable of focusing sources and imaging large objects will revolutionize military,medical, industrial and biological imaging, materials research, and nondestructive testing. Large x-ray apertures permit long range focusing and collection of x-rays for directed-energy and s