Two channel multilayer mirrors for astrophysics

A two-channel mirror reflecting both Fe-IX/X (lambda = 17.1 nm) and He-II (30.4 nm) resonance lines at near normal incidence has been designed, fabricated and characterized. These two passbands are often chosen in space instruments designed for the observation of the solar corona. The mirror structure used for optimization is a superposition of two periodic multilayers with three components per period. It has been designed by using optimization software with an appropriate merit function. The theoretical reflectivity for both resonance lines can reach 0.25. It is shown that, by using a set of filters, one can select either the Fe-IX/X or the He-II channel. The spectral response of the two-channel mirror has been measured on synchrotron radiation source on a large wavelength range, from 12 nm to 35 nm. Experimental reflectivity reaches 0.32 for the Fe-IX/X line and 0.19 for the He-II line. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.