Pushing the limits: latest developments in angle metrology for the inspection of ultra-precise synchrotron optics
The requirements on the quality of ultra-precise X-ray optical components for application in the Synchrotron Radiation (SR) community are increasing continually and strongly depend on the quality of the metrology devices available to measure such optics. To meet the upcoming accuracy goal of 50 nrad rms for slope measuring profilers, a dedicated project, SIB58 Angles, consisting of 16 worldwide partners and supported by the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) was started in Sep 2013. The project covers investigations on autocollimators under extremely challenging measuring conditions, ray-tracing models, 2D autocollimator calibration (for the first time worldwide), determination of error sources in angle encoders providing traceability by ‘sub-division of 2π rad’ with nrad uncertainty, angle generation by 'ratio of two lengths' in nrad level, and on the development of portable precise Small Angle Generators (SAGs) for regular in-situ checks of autocollimators’ performance. Highlights from the project will be reported in the paper and the community of metrology for X-Ray and EUV Optics will be informed about its progress and the latest work in angle metrology.
Calibration of a compact XUV soft X-ray monochromator with a digital autocollimator in situ.
A digital autocollimator of resolution 0.1 µrad (0.02 arcsec) serves as a handy correction tool for calibrating the angular uncertainty during angular and lateral movements of gratings inside a monochromator chamber under ultra-high vacuum. The photon energy dispersed from the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) to the soft X-ray region of the synchrotron beamline at the Taiwan Light Source was monitored using molecular ionization spectra at high resolution as energy references that correlate with the fine angular steps during grating rotation. The angular resolution of the scanning mechanism was <0.3 µrad, which results in an energy shift of 80 meV at 867 eV. The angular uncertainties caused by the lateral movement during a grating exchange were decreased from 2.2 µrad to 0.1 µrad after correction. The proposed method provides a simple solution for on-site beamline diagnostics of highly precise multi-axis optical manipulating instruments at synchrotron facilities and in-house laboratories.
Observations of nearshore infragravity waves: Seaward and shoreward propagating components
[1] The variation of seaward and shoreward infragravity energy fluxes across the shoaling and surf zones of a gently sloping sandy beach is estimated from field observations and related to forcing by groups of sea and swell, dissipation, and shoreline reflection. Data from collocated pressure and velocity sensors deployed between 1 and 6 m water depth are combined, using the assumption of cross-shore propagation, to decompose the infragravity wave field into shoreward and seaward propagating components. Seaward of the surf zone, shoreward propagating infragravity waves are amplified by nonlinear interactions with groups of sea and swell, and the shoreward infragravity energy flux increases in the onshore direction. In the surf zone, nonlinear phase coupling between infragravity waves and groups of sea and swell decreases, as does the shoreward infragravity energy flux, consistent with the cessation of nonlinear forcing and the increased importance of infragravity wave dissipation. Seaward propagating infragravity waves are not phase coupled to incident wave groups, and their energy levels suggest strong infragravity wave reflection near the shoreline. The cross-shore variation of the seaward energy flux is weaker than that of the shoreward flux, resulting in cross-shore variation of the squared infragravity reflection coefficient (ratio of seaward to shoreward energy flux) between about 0.4 and 1.5.