Thin-shell plastic lenses for space and laboratory applications
Creators
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1.
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
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2.
National Institute for Astrophysics
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3.
Technical University of Denmark
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4.
Brera Astronomical Observatory
Contributors
Abstract
We have identified an inexpensive, readily available, mechanically stable, extremely smooth, elastic, and mechanically uniform plastic suitable for thin film X-ray optics. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is easily deformed without losing its elastic properties or surface smoothness. Most important, PET can be coated with mono- or multilayers that reflect X-rays at grazing incidence. We have used these properties to produce X-ray optics made either as a concentric nest of cylinders or as a spiral. We have produced accurately formed shells in precisely machined vacuum mandresl or used a pin and wheel structure to form a continuously wound spiral. The wide range of medical, industrial and scientific applications for our technology includes: a monochromatic X-ray collimater for medical diagnostics, a relay optic to transport an X-ray beam from the target in a scanning electron microscop0e to a lithium-drifted silicon and microcalorimeter detectors and a satellite mounted telescope to collect celestial X-rays. A wide variety of mono- and multilayer coatings allow X-rays up to ~100 keV to be reflected. Our paper presents data from a variety of diagnostic measurements on the properties of the PET foil and imaging results form single- and multi-shell lenses.
Additional Information
© 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. We thank Gerald K. Austin, David Caldwell, Richard Goddard, Lawrence J. Knowles and Warren Martell of SAO for their help with the engineering and technical aspects of the optics production. We also thank Giovanni Pareschi and Francesco Mazzoleni ofOsservatorio Astronomico Di Brera for arranging the collaboration with SAO. IR&D funding supported the research at SAO.Attached Files
Published - 82.pdf
Files
82.pdf
Additional details
Identifiers
- Eprint ID
- 91875
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20181217-155512990
Funding
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Dates
- Created
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2018-12-18Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field
Caltech Custom Metadata
- Series Name
- Proceedings of SPIE
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 5537