Experimental investigation and ray-tracing calculations on the use of polycapillary x-ray optics

The use of x-ray optics in x-ray instrumentation for dispersing, collecting, focusing and imaging x rays is expected to become increasingly important. In recent years clear trends towards the more efficient use of laboratory sources and improved focal properties using different kinds of x-ray optics are observed. In the present work we have performed an experimental characterization of a polycapillary device. The energy dependent transmission and lateral resolution have been assessed. Next to this, ray-tracing calculations were performed to verify our experimental results. Our preliminary results on the size of the beam waist are indicative for the applicability of these focusing devices in laterally resolved x-ray experiments. Quantitative results are presented in conjunction with our ray-tracing simulations.