Rotating Mirror X-ray Focusing System Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray focusing systems using rotating mirrors struggle to collect all fluxes of X-rays with a small divergence angle efficiently, leading to reduced focusing intensity and limited application of high-luminance beams due to annular openings and chromatic aberration.
Innovation Solution
An optical design method for an X-ray focusing system employing a rotating mirror with an elliptical or combined elliptical-hyperbolic reflection surface, paired with an annular focusing mirror, ensures that X-ray beams are collected on an entire surface, eliminating annular openings and achieving 100% beam use efficiency through two-step focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large aperture rotating mirror is used to collect X-rays, then the aperture area is improved, but the beams can only be applied to a part of the mirror surface due to small divergence angle, resulting in loss of beam flux
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single rotating mirror into two separate mirrors: a first rotating mirror for collecting divergent X-ray beams and a second rotating mirror for focusing the beams. This segmentation allows each mirror to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the first mirror to collect all fluxes with its large aperture while the second mirror focuses them efficiently, thus resolving the contradiction between large aperture and beam flux utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate optical element (the first rotating mirror) that acts as a mediator between the X-ray source and the second rotating mirror. This intermediary collects the divergent beams across a large aperture and redirects them to the second mirror, which then focuses them. This intermediary structure enables full utilization of the large aperture without losing beam flux.
2Area of stationary object
If an upstream mirror is used to expand the beam, then the beam coverage on the rotating ellipsoidal mirror is improved, but beams traveling through the middle portion cannot be collected, resulting in decreased focusing intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam expansion and focusing functions into two separate rotating mirrors. The first rotating mirror handles beam collection from the source, while the second rotating mirror handles the focusing operation. This segmentation allows both mirrors to work at full capacity across their entire surfaces, eliminating the problem where the middle portion of the mirror cannot be utilized when using a single mirror with beam expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single mirror where the beam must be expanded to cover the surface (which leaves the middle portion unused), the patent inverts the approach by using two mirrors where each mirror's surface is fully utilized for its specific function. The first mirror collects all beams including those that would pass through the middle portion, and the second mirror focuses them, thereby inverting the problematic configuration and achieving full surface utilization with high focusing intensity.
3Measurement precision
If a zone plate is used for X-ray focusing, then the focusing resolution is improved, but the focusing efficiency is low and it is limited to a single wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the zone plate's diffraction-based optical system with a reflective optical system using rotating mirrors. Instead of relying on diffraction phenomena that limit efficiency and wavelength versatility, the patent uses reflective optics where X-rays are reflected off the rotating mirror surfaces. This substitution maintains high focusing resolution while dramatically improving focusing efficiency and enabling multi-wavelength operation, as reflective optics are not constrained by diffraction limits.
4Measurement precision
If a KB mirror is used for hard X-ray focusing, then the focusing resolution is improved, but the focusing performance has reached a theoretical limit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the focusing system into two rotating mirrors with distinct functions, allowing each component to be optimized independently. This segmentation enables the system to surpass the theoretical limits of conventional single-element KB mirrors by distributing the optical functions across multiple elements, thereby improving overall focusing performance and providing greater versatility for different X-ray applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite optical system combining two different rotating mirror configurations. Rather than relying on a single KB mirror design, the system integrates a first rotating mirror for beam collection and a second rotating mirror for focusing, creating a composite optical architecture that exceeds the theoretical performance limits of individual KB mirror elements and offers enhanced adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables high-intensity nano-focusing with reduced geometrical size, free from chromatic aberration, and achieves focusing to the diffraction limit, enhancing the performance of next-generation radiation light sources like XFEL.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective rotating mirror is an idealistic focusing element because the reflective rotating mirror has a large aperture, high focusing efficiency, and is free of chromatic aberration
Implementation Method 2
determining a shape of a rotating mirror provided with a reflection surface, the reflection surface being formed by rotating, by one turn around an optical axis, a one-dimensional profile composed of an ellipse
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the invention is to provide a novel optical design method for an X-ray focusing system capable of collecting all the fluxes, while applying an X-ray of a very small divergence angle to the entire surface of a rotating mirror. The method includes a step of determining the shape of a rotating mirror (3) provided with a reflection surface, the reflection surface being formed by rotating, by one turn around an optical axis (OA), a one-dimensional profile composed of an ellipse or a part of combination of the ellipse and a hyperbolic curve, the ellipse including a downstream focal point (F) serving as a light collecting point of the X-ray focusing system, and including an upstream focal point (F1) deviated from the optical axis (OA); and a step of determining the shape of a reflection surface of an annular focusing mirror (4).