In order to improve the overall performance of energy dispersive x-ray secondary emission spectrometry one can make use of polarized x-rays. We have used polarized x-rays produced by 90° scattering to reduce the background intensity due to the primary x-ray source.

An effort has been made to optimize the polarizing scatterer for the elements being analyzed. A discrepancy appears in the theory of such optimization between a simple one point formula and a more elaborate integral formula. Possible reasons for such disparities might lie in 1) collimator geometric effects, 2) multiple scattering and 3) actual primary intensity. The first problem has been dealt with in an unpublished manuscript. This report concerns itself with point 2, multiple scatter, and in particular with double scatter including polarization effects.