Objectives and benefits
The main objective of the Action is to increase the knowledge in the field of X-Ray and Neutron interactions with solid surfaces and interfaces, and to develop fabrication and characterization methods for advanced innovative optical elements for applications in this extreme short wavelength range.
In particular, the following goals will be addressed :
Increase the knowledge in the field of X-ray and Neutron Optics, which is necessary to develop new type of optical elements adapted to this energy range, as well as to improve the efficiency and versatility of those optics
Extend the field of applications of very short wavelength optical elements on current x-ray and neutron sources but also to test new fields now foreseen due to better characteristics of the more recent and of the planned new sources.
Reinforce the interactions and the cooperation between the different national groups of designers and users of x-ray and neutron optics.
The quite broad and flexible program, with its interdisciplinary approach, will offer to each participant the potentiality to contribute to other projects and to keep access to the whole technological advances without compromising with its own local development.
The proposed Action can be described by the following key-words :
From this the following goals can be deduced :
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Control of high-quality
surfaces for the production of ultra-smooth substrates able to be
coated with atomic layers of different materials with low nucleation
rate.
*
Understanding of polishing
methods by mechanical, chemical and ion-assisted milling.
*
Understanding of correlation
between material characteristics and ability to produce smooth high
quality surfaces and interfaces able to sustain the high power
radiation emitted by new sources.
*
Development, testing and
comparison of techniques able to measure roughness, at the atomic
scale, of surfaces and of embedded interfaces.
*
Development of methods to
control and correct high precision mirror surface curvatures under
the high fluxes emited by the new sources.
*
Improvement of lithographic and
pattern transfer methods to build high aspect ratio structures at 0.1
micron scale on thin homogeneous and multilayered metallic films.
Benefits of the approach :
The proposed research
Action will develop more precise mathematical methods and testing
tools to improve the basic understanding of the application-oriented
use.
The benefits of this COST Action for research institutions
and industry are the following:
*
Improvement of communication at
the European scale between research institutions and with the
industry.
*
Better understanding and
control of the produced optics by defining a common technical
language and methods to evaluate the produced surfaces and the
high-density patterned structures.
*
Providing a forum in order to
organise joint research projects, avoid duplication of efforts and
compare optical elements specific to x-ray and neutron focusing
produced by different sources.
*
Development of specific
patterning methods adapted to high-aspect-ratio binary x-ray and
neutron optics from existing technologies developed for the visible
integrated optics and microelectronics.
On the whole, the expected results are that the efficiency of research in the fields of x-ray and neutrons optics will be improved by avoiding duplication of trials and tests for the same kind of applications, by providing a way to circulate information and cooperative research on subjects selected for their potentiality. It also will allow European laboratories involved in this field to compete more effectively with well structured research groups in the USA and Japan which are the two main countries also active in this field.
Such a COST action will also benefit the European industries in the development of very high precision optical systems coupling high quality surfaces and integrated optics at the sub-micron scale.