X-RAY OPTICS FOR ESRF BEAMLINES - PROBLEMS AND PROJECTS

Third generation, dedicated synchrotron radiation sources will produce x-ray beams of unprecedented quality and power. This calls for substantial research and development of adequate instrumentation. In particular, the unprecedented properties of the new sources must be followed up by a complete review of the optical devices which constitute the first part of the beamline after the beryllium window. This article gives a short account of where and what the problems are in x-ray optics for the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and what is presently going on and being envisaged to solve these. This review is divided into problems concerning conservation of the low source emittance such as the optical quality of mirror surfaces and high crystalline perfection of monochromators, and the important problem of how to preserve the very high brilliance resulting in unprecedented x-ray total power and power density generated by wigglers and undulators. Finally, a brief presentation of the ESRF optics laboratory is given.