Micro-radian figure tolerance elliptical and parabolic x-ray mirror systems.

Total reflection grazing incidence mirrors are the only devices available to focus X-ray beams resulting in an achromatic focus. The elastic bending of polished, specially shaped beams to obtain the shapes of parabolic and elliptical reflectors is described in this paper. X-ray focusing devices based on this principle have been used at EMBL Hamburg Outstation in some variety or other ever since the latter half of the 1970's. We review the methodology of beam bending, calculation of beam shape and present a versatile program for the comparison of various designs.