Electron excited X-ray fluorescence device
A device for providing for electron excited x-ray fluorescence may include means for driving two contacting surfaces against each other in a low fluid pressure environment, such that high energy electrons strike a sample under test and provide for x-ray fluorescence of the sample. The sample under test may be in or on a sample holder, whose position with respect to the contacting surfaces is adjustable. For example, the sample holder may be positionable to be a different distances from the contacting surfaces.
1. An electron excitation x-ray fluorescence (EXRF) device, comprising:
a chamber maintainable at a desired fluid pressure;
a vacuum pump coupled to the chamber, whereby the vacuum pump may at least partially evacuate the chamber;
a membrane of a dielectric material within the chamber;
a gapped rotor drivable to provide time varying contact with areas of a first surface of the membrane;
a sample holder including a sample holding area for holding samples within the chamber during operation; and
a sealable port in the chamber to provide access to the sample holding area.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealable port comprises a door in a wall of the chamber.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sealable port is a slot in a wall of the chamber.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein position of the sample holder is adjustable with respect to position of the membrane.
5. The device of claim 3 , further comprising means for adjusting position of the sample holding area with respect to the membrane.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the membrane and the sample holding area is adjustable.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder is substantially opaque to x-rays.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample holder is substantially transparent to x-rays.
9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a mesh over a sample tray.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mesh is maintained at a predefined electrical potential.