Installing refractive x-ray lenses
In general, a refractive lens system will contain many individual lenses in a stack. In order to achieve optimum performance for focusing and imaging it is necessary to align the optical axes of the individual lenses in a stack with micrometer precision. Furthermore, during operation the lens stack must be installed in high vacuum. We provide high precision lens casings that can be integrated in the vacuum of a beamline (Figure 1). For alignment purposes the lens casings should be attached to a support with three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom.
At both ends of the lens stack should be installed a pinhole or slit in order to reduce the scattered radiation.
Properties of our lens casings
- Micrometer precision
- High vacuum compatible
- Available in three lengths: LC100 (Figure 1), LC200, and LC300, suitable for up to 50, 100, and 150 individual lenses (of standard frame thickness 2 mm), respectively
- Quick and easy installation and removal of individual lenses and even of a whole lens stack due to removable insets (Figure 2)
- Available with two types of removable insets: for 1D lenses and for 2D lenses
- Lenses of any radii of curvature R can be combined within a single lens casing
- Alignment holes in the insets allow a quick and easy alignment of the lens stack
- KF25 compatible flanges for integration into the vacuum-system of a beamline
- Flanges and cover with Viton O-rings (therefore no ultra-high vacuum compatibility)
- With screw holes for the attachment of the casing to a support