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INSTITUTE ORIGINS
The idea of controlling the beams of neutral particles, x-rays, and
neutrons was first proposed in the late 1980s by Kumakhov. Founded on
using multiple reflection and special geometry of reflecting surfaces
inside hollow glass capillaries, the idea was patented by Kumakhov in
1984. The first x-ray capillary lens was created in his laboratory
at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy in 1985, and the first
neutron lens in 1987. Beginning in 1991, polycapillary optics have
been the focus of research at the IRO.
In fact, several generations of x-ray lenses have been developed at
the IRO. The first lenses were assembled manually using several
thousand single capillaries with channel diameters of about 1 mm. Compare
this to the most recent generation of lenses, made up of as many as a
million channels, each channel less than 1 um in diameter.
The range of energy controllable with the help of Kumakhov
polycapillary optics varies from hundreds of electrons to 60 keV. The
optics have a very large angle of capture (6 to 10°) and transmit
radiation efficiently from the source, concurrently converting the
radiation into a quasi-parallel or focused beam. Lens length ranges
from several millimeters to 12 cm, depending on the task at hand.
The IRO was also the first to produce polycapillary structures with
nanometer-dimension channel sizes and the first to create neutron
polycapillary lenses that are used efficiently to focus neutron
beams.
FULL X-RAY TOOLBOX
The IRO not only has developed and manufactured high-performance
optics but also has produced a new generation of micro-focus x-ray
sources readily compatible with x-ray optics, including various x-ray
tubes with different purposes and generators.
In addition, IRO-manufactured linear position-sensitive detectors are
used in IRO-developed diffractometers, the spatial resolution of
which is better than 50 µm. The IRO is the only organization in
Russia manufacturing the full range of x-ray tools.
On the basis of Kumakhov polycapillary optics, the IRO, in
cooperation with Unisantis S.A. (Switzerland), has created a new
generation of x-ray analytical equipment, constituting more than 15
different instruments.
X-ray spectrometers have been made for local fluorescence
microanalysis of the chemical composition of objects (u-XRF). In
these instruments, the focal spot of the polycapillary lens varies
from 10 µm and greater. In 2006, for the first time, a portable x-ray
scanning microscope with a focal spot of 1 µm will be available
commercially.
X-ray diffractometers for phase and stress analysis also have been
created. Now one instrument combines chemical analysis (u-XRF), phase
analysis, and stress analysis. IRO stress analyzers are used for
monitoring and routine checks of nuclear power plants, in aviation,
and on railways.
All of these instruments have low power consumption (5 to 50 W) and
small dimensions, and are lightweight (about 10 kg or less). The
instruments can be operated in the field, in a standard lab
environment, and even in a car—offering potentially real-time
identification for homeland security.
DESKTOP ENGINEERING
For the first time in x-ray engineering, a desktop instrument has
been produced featuring record detection-level parameters. This
instrument can analyze solutions, water, etc., at 1 ppb(i.e., 1/109).
Continuing their series of "small" achievements, the IRO
has developed a unique instrument named a "Laboratory
Synchrotron." This portable instrument, which weighs only about
10 kg, provides unprecedented fluxes of monochromatic x-rays at the
level of 1010 to 10" photon/sec'mm with
about 2 mrad divergence. This is a significant advance compared to
existing static and rotating anodes. If the Laboratory Synchrotron is
equipped with convergent optics, it will allow a further increase of
flux by two orders.
This instrument has a wide range of applications including protein
diffractometry, high-pressure crystallography of materials,
micro-diffraction studies, and small-angle scattering. The most
important applications of the instrument may be in pharmacology.
All of these developments mean Kumakhov polycapillary optics have
become a real tool not just for laboratories but also in industry and
medicine.
The IRO does more than conduct research, though. The Institute also
organizes the International Conference on X-Ray and Neutron Capillary
Optics held in Russia every three years under the aegis of SPIE and
the SPIE Russia Chapter.
In addition, the IRO received the 2002 SPIE Technology Achievement
Award for "outstanding scientific and technological achievements
in the development, fabrication, implementation, and reduction to
practice of Kumakov x-ray and neutron capillary and polycapillary
optics."
IRO efforts were also recognized at the International Exhibition of
Military and Police Equipment in 2004, where its micro-XRF analyzer,
a very convenient instrument for practical forensic examinations, was
awarded a prize.
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