Scientists of the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University will develop a small-size device to determine chemical compound of any materials, RusNanoNet reports citing Aleksander Potylitsyn, head of the department of applied physics of the university.

The project is carried out at the Russian-Armenian science and education laboratory “X-Ray Optics”.

“Our first goal is to create a small-size device of element analysis of samples in a variety of sectors – from geology to medicine. Before that we’ve had devices in size of a desk. If everything goes according to our plan, in two to four years we’ll present a device as a commercial product,” Mr. Potylitsyn said.

He explained that research, carried out together with the Institute of Applied Physics Problems of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, was currently in the first project stage.

“During the research we’ve proved that we can decrease amount and size of X-ray tubes that produce main radiation and take most space. We can not only decrease the size of the device, but also lower radiation, making the device less dangerous to people and more energy efficient,” the scientist confirmed.

He specified that scientists goal was to make the device portable so that it could be installed at such places, as luggage X-ray conveyor belts in airports.

According to Mr. Potylitsyn, Russian and Armenian project participants have already invested $360,000 in equal shares into the project.

Tomsk scientists believe that new X-ray optical elements will cause better efficiency of all applied research that use X-ray analysis methods.