This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of the physics and engineering of optical systems for synchrotron radiation beam lines. It begins by describing the production of synchrotron radiation and the flux, brightness, spectral and angular distribution, power output and coherence properties of bending-magnet and undulator sources. The methods by which these highly polarized x-ray beams can be steered and focused by means of grazing-incidence mirrors are discussed initially from an engineering standpoint. This includes the design and fabrication of mirror substrates (cooled and uncooled, metal and ceramic), the polishing of optical surfaces and the shaping of mirrors, especially elliptical cylinders, by elastic deformation. The mathematical treatment of optical path function method will be provided but in documentary form only. The lecture will concentrate on how to apply its results to practical beam line design issues. The treatment applies to all mirrors and reflection gratings in a unified way and allows the aberrations to be understood and calculated for all surface shapes and groove distributions. Finally the optical and engineering principles established above will be applied to the design of practical soft x-ray monochromators such as spherical- and plane-grating schemes (SGMs and PGMs) including the collimated-light SX700. Finally, the current design options for soft x-ray beam lines are summarized with some discussion of future possibilities.

This course provides the fundamentals of the physics and engineering of optical systems for synchrotron radiation beam lines. It describes the production and properties of bending-magnet and undulator radiation. The steering and focusing of x-rays using grazing-incidence mirrors are discussed from an engineering standpoint. This includes the design and fabrication of mirror substrates (cooled and uncooled, metal and ceramic), the polishing of optical surfaces and the shaping of mirrors by elastic deformation. The design of practical soft x-ray monochromators is presented with emphasis on spherical- and plane grating schemes (SGMs and PGMs). Finally the current design options for soft x-ray beam lines are summarized with some discussion of future possibilities.