Optics of the Focusing X-Ray Microscope

A brief description is given of Kirkpatrick and Baez' x-ray reflecting microscope The types of aberration possible in optical systems without axial symmetry are discussed and the effect of spherical aberration on the diffraction pattern of an object point is evaluated. The resolving power of a circular mirror is calculated, and a method of correcting field obliquity is described A method is given for the design of a figured mirror to give smaller spherical aberration with zero field obliquity. Design equations are given for a system employing two circular mirrors in each plane, by which spherical aberration, obliquity and curvature of field can be corrected. The computed performance of the system is described.