Image quality criteria for wide-field x-ray imaging applications

Patrick L. Thompson; James E. Harvey

doi:10.1117/12.368231

Abstract

For staring, wide-field applications, such as a solar x-ray imager, the severe off-axis aberrations of the classical Wolter Type-I grazing incidence x-ray telescope design drastically limits the 'resolution' near the solar limb. A specification upon on-axis fractional encircled energy is thus not an appropriate image quality criterion for such wide-angle applications. A more meaningful image quality criterion would be a field-weighted-average measure of 'resolution.' Since surface scattering effects from residual optical fabrication errors are always substantial at these very short wavelengths, the field-weighted-average half- power radius is a far more appropriate measure of aerial resolution. If an ideal mosaic detector array is being used in the focal plane, the finite pixel size provides a practical limit to this system performance. Thus, the total number of aerial resolution elements enclosed by the operational field-of-view, expressed as a percentage of the n umber of ideal detector pixels, is a further improved image quality criterion. In this paper we describe the development of an image quality criterion for wide-field applications of grazing incidence x-ray telescopes which leads to a new class of grazing incidence designs described in a following companion paper.

Citation Download Citation

Patrick L. Thompson, Patrick L. Thompson, James E. Harvey, James E. Harvey, } "Image quality criteria for wide-field x-ray imaging applications", Proc. SPIE 3779, Current Developments in Optical Design and Optical Engineering VIII, (5 October 1999); doi: 10.1117/12.368231; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.368231

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email/Username on this computer

Remember Password

No SPIE account? Create an account
or Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $14.40

Non-members: $18.00 ADD TO CART

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years