X-RAY FOCUSING WITH LOBSTER-EYE OPTICS - A COMPARISON OF THEORY WITH EXPERIMENT

We report an experimental investigation and comparison with simulation of the x-ray focusing of a flat, square profile microchannel plate. W e use x rays with an energy of similar to 1.5 keV from a laser-produce d plasma. The images were recorded with x-ray film. We find the focal structure to be consistent with theoretical expectations. The angular resolution of the focus is 0.96 mrad, which is a major improvement ove r previous results. The measured peak intensity gain is 27 +/- 4, whic h is similar to 33% of that for a perfect optic. (C) 1996 Optical Soci ety of America