The x-ray compound lens is a novel refractive x-ray optical device. This paper reports the authors' recent research on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) compound x-ray lens. Firstly the designing and LIGA fabrication process for the PMMA compound x-ray lens are briefly described. Then, a method for theoretical analysis, as well as the experimental system for measurement is also introduced. Finally, the focusing spots for 8keV monochromatic x-rays by the PMMA compound x-ray lens are measured and analysed. According to the experimental results, it is concluded that the PMMA compound x-ray lens promises a good focusing performance under the high-energy x-rays.
It is important to predict the intensity distribution in focusing plane for designing the X-ray compound refractive lenses. On the basis of analyzing the structure of X-ray compound lenses and comparing it with Praunhofer diffraction system, it is concluded that the X-ray focusing system can be regarded as a kind of Praunhofer diffraction system. Therefore, a method based on Fourier spectrum analysis is presented to predict the intensity distribution in the focusing plane for the X-ray lenses. A brief analysis on the relationship between the parameters of X-ray lenses and their focusing performance is also given in this paper.