X-Ray Characteristics and Applications of Layered Synthetic Microstructures

Practitioners of wavelength-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy are always seeking better dispersing devices. The wavelength-dispersive instrument is called a “crystal spectrometer” because natural or synthetically-grown crystals are most often used. Occasionally, other “manufactured” dispersers are suggested for specific applications: highly oriented polycrystalline graphite provides much higher intensities than the crystals usually used for the K-lines of P, S and Cl; Langmuir-Blodgett films (heavy metal salts of fatty acids) provide 2d-spacings over the range of 70 to 130 A, making soft x-ray spectroscopy practical in a wavelength range for which natural crystals are not available.