Development of a multi-lane X-ray mirror providing variable beam sizes

Area of Science:

• Optics and X-ray instrumentation
• Materials science
• Synchrotron radiation applications

Background:

• Grazing incidence mirrors are essential components in X-ray synchrotron beamlines for focusing, collimating, and harmonic suppression.
• There is a growing demand from synchrotron users for variable X-ray beam shapes and sizes at the sample position.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new concept for rapidly altering the size and shape of a focused X-ray beam.
• To enable flexible and on-demand beam control for synchrotron experiments.

Main Methods:

• The developed concept utilizes an elliptically figured mirror with a surface divided into laterally separated lanes.
• Each lane features an additional longitudinal height profile, precisely calculated to shape the X-ray beam into a top-hat profile in the focal plane.
• Two prototype mirrors were fabricated and subjected to metrology tests and in-situ measurements on a synchrotron beamline.

Main Results:

• Metrology tests confirmed the precise surface profiles of the fabricated mirrors.
• Measurements on a synchrotron beamline demonstrated the effective focusing and shaping of the X-ray beam.
• The results validate the 'top-hat' beam profile generation capability.

Conclusions:

• The novel concept of segmented, height-profiled grazing incidence mirrors allows for rapid switching of X-ray beam sizes and shapes.
• This technology has the potential for widespread application across numerous synchrotron beamlines requiring dynamic beam control.
• The developed mirrors offer a practical solution for enhancing experimental flexibility at synchrotrons.