Single-focus x-ray zone plate by stagger arrangement of zones

Abstract

In this paper a novel single-focus x-ray zone plate is proposed by stagger arrangement of zones, which would be technically easier to manufacture. Theoretical design shows that the transmission function of the plate is a cosine function of radius, like that of a Gabor zone plate. Numerical simulation at the wavelength of 0.275 nm shows that the plate is of single-order focusing, with spatial resolution limit the same as that of the corresponding conventional zone plate, and the first-order diffraction efficiency of 11.5%. The plate can also work for single-order focusing at other x-ray wavelengths.