High-energy-resolution x-ray optics with refractive collimators

We have tested the concept of a high-resolution x-ray monochromator with a refractive collimator as an optical element. Two options were examined, where the refractive collimator was included either instead of, or in addition to the first crystal of the high-resolution monochromator. The first approach offers an easy means of improving the energy resolution of conventional optical schemes by few orders of magnitude while still accepting the entire angular divergence of the primary beam. The second approach improves the performance of existing devices with very high-energy resolution and simplifies the design of future optical schemes. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)04927-5].