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Nanofocusing optics for synchrotron radiation made from polycrystalline diamond
Optics Express
|April 11, 2014
Summary
Diamond refractive lenses achieve nanofocusing of X-rays, enabling smaller focal spots for advanced applications. These diamond optics offer high efficiency and beam brilliance preservation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optics
- Physics
Background:
- Diamond's extreme properties make it suitable for advanced X-ray optics.
- Refractive lenses fabricated from diamond can focus X-rays efficiently without compromising beam brilliance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and test advanced diamond-based nanofocusing X-ray optics.
- To evaluate the focusing performance of different diamond morphologies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication using electron-beam lithography and deep reactive-ion etching for transfer molding.
- Testing of compound refractive lenses using synchrotron radiation at the Diamond Light Source.
Main Results:
- Achieved focal line-widths down to 210 nm with nanocrystalline diamond at 11 keV.
- Measured 230 nm focal line-width with microcrystalline diamond at 15 keV.
- Demonstrated high transmission compared to silicon refractive and diffractive optics.
Conclusions:
- Diamond compound refractive lenses are effective for nanofocusing X-ray beams.
- Improved optical structure uniformity enhances focusing capabilities.
- Diamond optics offer a promising alternative for high-performance X-ray applications.
