HARD X-RAY MIRROR FABRICATION CAPABILITIES IN EUROPE

The new properties of third-generation synchrotron radiation beams cal l for corresponding progress in instrumentation technology. This is pa rticularly true for hard x-ray mirrors, for which new technologies hav e been implemented to meet outstanding requirements. The transfer of e xperience from other fields such as high-energy lasers and astronomy h as been of major importance in the realization of new designs. The Eur opean Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the first third-generation hard x-ray source in Europe, has stimulated R&D programs of four European c ompanies in the field of hard x-ray mirrors. This paper presents the m ajor achievements of these companies.