Spiral conical approximations to double reflection Wolter optics
Abstract
The design of a grazing incidence focusing optic obtained from a spiral approximation to multiple nested cones produces an annular image of a point source. The angular size of the annulus depends mainly on the pitch of the winding and the focal length. For a spiral conical approximation to Wolter optics, the effect is magnified by the double reflection. However, if the two conical spirals are wound one clock-wise and the other counter-clock-wise, then the aberration is partially compensated. We use a ray tracing code to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of this optical design for potential applications of a light weight optics technology based on plastic foils that we are currently investigating.
- Publication:
-
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2008: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
- Pub Date:
- July 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.790963
- Bibcode:
- 2008SPIE.7011E..36B