Compound Refractive Lenses for Novel X-ray Sources

Abstract We have measured the intensity profile of X-rays focused by a linear array of closely spaced spherical lenses fabricated using Mylar (C5H4O2). We have experimentally demonstrated that we can achieve two-dimensional focusing for photon energies between 7 and 9 keV with imaging distances of less than 1 m. For example, using 8-keV X-rays we have achieved full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) linewidths down to 27.5 μm at a distance of only 62 cm from the lens. The effective aperture of the lens was measured to be about 390 μm with 38% transmission at 9 keV. A synchrotron source having source-size dimensions of 0.44×1.7 mm2 was utilized for the experimental work. Such lenses are seen as useful for focusing and increasing the intensity of novel X-ray sources that are directional and have small source size (σ