An X-ray system includes, first and second X-ray channels (XCs), a spot sizer and a processor. The first XC is configured to: (i) direct a first X-ray beam for producing a spot on a surface of a sample, and (ii) produce a first signal responsively to a first X-ray radiation received from the surface. The spot sizer is positioned at a distance from the surface and is shaped and positioned to set the spot size by passing to the surface a portion of the first X-ray beam. The second XC is configured to: (i) direct a second X-ray beam to the surface, and (ii) produce a second signal responsively to a second X-ray radiation received from the surface, and the processor is configured to: (i) perform an analysis of the sample based on the first signal, and (ii) estimate the size of the spot based on the second signal.

A method for X-ray measurement includes generating and directing an X-ray beam to a sample including at least first and second layers stacked on one another, the X-ray beam incident on a sample location at which the first and second layers include respective first and second high aspect ratio (HAR) structures. X-ray scatter profiles are measured, that are emitted from the sample location in response to the X-ray beam as a function of tilt angle between the sample and the X-ray beam. A shift is estimated, between the first and second layers and a characteristic tilt of the first and second layers, based on the X-ray scatter profiles measured as a function of the tilt angle.

There is provided a technique capable of evaluating an anisotropy of an object with a large field of view, in a non-destructive manner and with high angular resolution. An object 1 is irradiated with X-rays from a radiation source 22 of a phase-contrast X-ray optical system 2. A change characteristic in X-ray scattering intensities for individual relative angles each formed between an incident angle of the X-rays and an anisotropic structure in the object 1 are then acquired. Evaluation data for evaluating a state of the anisotropic structure in the object 1 is then generated based on the change characteristic in the X-ray scattering intensities.

A transmission type small-angle scattering device of the present invention includes a goniometer 10 including a rotation arm 11. The rotation arm 11 is freely turnable around a θ-axis extending in a horizontal direction from an origin with a vertical arrangement state of the rotation arm being defined as the origin, and has a vertical arrangement structure in which an X-ray irradiation unit 20 is installed on a lower-side end portion of the rotation arm 11, and a two-dimensional X-ray detector 30 is installed on an upper-side end portion of the rotation arm 11 to form a vertical arrangement structure.

An X-ray scattering apparatus having a sample holder for aligning and/or orienting a sample to be analyzed by X-ray scattering, a first X-ray beam delivery system having a first X-ray source, and a first monochromator being arranged upstream of the sample holder for generating and directing a first X-ray beam along a beam path in a propagation direction towards the sample holder is disclosed. A distal X-ray detector arranged downstream of the sample holder and being movable, in particular in a motorized way, along the propagation direction as to detect the first X-ray beam and X-rays scattered at different scattering angles from the sample as the first X-ray beam delivery system is configured to focus the first X-ray beam onto a focal spot on or near the distal X-ray detector when placed at its largest distance from the sample holder is also disclosed.

An X-ray scattering apparatus having a sample holder for aligning and/or orienting a sample to be analyzed by X-ray scattering, a first X-ray beam delivery system having a first X-ray source and a first monochromator being arranged upstream of the sample holder for generating and directing a first X-ray beam along a beam path, a distal X-ray detector arranged downstream of the sample holder and being movable, in a motorized way, is disclosed. The first X-ray beam delivery system is configured to focus the first X-ray beam onto a focal spot near the distal X-ray detector when placed at its largest distance from the sample holder or produce a parallel beam so that the X-ray scattering apparatus has a second X-ray beam delivery system having a second X-ray source and being configured to generate and direct a divergent second X-ray beam towards the sample holder for X-ray imaging.

A transmission type small-angle scattering device of the present invention includes a goniometer 10 including a rotation arm 11. The rotation arm 11 is freely turnable around a θ-axis extending in a horizontal direction from an origin with a vertical arrangement state of the rotation arm 11 being defined as the origin, and has a vertical arrangement structure in which an X-ray irradiation unit 20 is installed on a lower-side end portion of the rotation arm 11, and a two-dimensional X-ray detector 30 is installed on an upper-side end portion of the rotation arm 11 to form a vertical arrangement structure.

A transmission type small-angle scattering device of the present invention includes a goniometer 10 including a rotation arm 11. The rotation arm 11 is freely turnable around a θ-axis extending in a horizontal direction from an origin with a vertical arrangement state of the rotation arm 11 being defined as the origin, and has a vertical arrangement structure in which an X-ray irradiation unit 20 is installed on a lower-side end portion of the rotation arm 11, and a two-dimensional X-ray detector 30 is installed on an upper-side end portion of the rotation arm 11 to form a vertical arrangement structure.

A detection scheme for x-ray small angle scattering is described. An x-ray small angle scattering apparatus may include a first grating and a complementary second grating. The first grating includes a plurality of first grating cells. The complementary second grating includes a plurality of second grating cells. The second grating is positioned relative to the first grating. A configuration of the first grating, a configuration of the second grating and the relative positioning of the gratings are configured to pass one or more small angle scattered photons and to block one or more Compton scattered photons and one or more main x-ray photons.

Provided is a fine structure determination method capable of easily determining tilt angles of columnar scattering bodies that are long in a thickness direction, and provided are an analysis apparatus and an analysis program thereof. There is provided an analysis method for a fine structure of a plate-shaped sample formed to have columnar scattering bodies that are long in a thickness direction and periodically arranged, comprising the steps of preparing scattering intensity data from the plate-shaped sample, that is generated via transmission of X-rays; and determining tilt angles of the scattering bodies in the plate-shaped sample with respect to a reference rotation position at which a surface of the plate-shaped sample is perpendicular to an incident direction of the X-rays, based on the prepared scattering intensity data.