DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR ADJUSTABLE-CURVATURE, HIGH-POWER, X-RAY MIRRORS BASED ON ELASTIC BENDING

The use of elastic bending to form the shapes of high-power x-ray mirr ors for synchrotron radiation beamlines is considered. An approach in which the bending mechanism and the mirror are cut from the same monol ithic block by electric-discharge-machining techniques is especially a dvocated. A discussion of the theory and practical design philosophies is given that includes circular and elliptical cylinder mirrors. The influence of gravity on the mirror shape is studied with emphasis on t he optimum positions for the mirror supports that, for a uniform mirro r, turn out to be at a spacing equal to the mirror length divided by r oot three.