Production and Properties of Shape Memory Polymer X-ray Lenses
Pavlov, G.A.¹; Pavlov, G.A.^2
1Institute of problems of chemical physics; ²Institute of problems of chemical physics RAS

X- ray astronomy seems as very attractive application in space research. New types of self - deploying X-ray telescopes can be developed basing on the shape memory lenses. Investigations undertaken by usage of X-ray devices based on lenses with proposed unique features will give light on fundamental problems in astrophysics.
Now investigations of energetic sources in galaxies and Sun first of all have been made using X-ray telescopes. Main optical elements in the present telescopes imply mirrors of aspheric forms based either on total refraction phenomenon or interference on synthetic multilayer structures. Both types of the named optical elements are very critical in production and hence very costly.
The main goal of proposed research is to create simple and cheap X-ray refractive telescopes using advantages of shape memory [1,2]. According to the proposal single X-ray refractive lenses have to be produced in laboratory with the usage of one-stage method for front photo polymerization and then convert on the satellite board to compound lenses ready to function as X-ray telescope for space X- rays with energies in the range 10 - 100 keV.
An advantage of the technique lies in choose new polymers having unique property of shape memory. X-ray refractive lenses made from the named polymers offer new feasibility in all aspects of applications to microbeam apparatus. First of all may be mentioned ability to smooth focal length tuning, as well as ready - form optical systems without additional equipment check -out. The X-ray refractive lenses have been produced from polymer with shape memory by method of production of precise polymeric parts [1,2]. The method of production is described in detail. It was experimentally shown that these lenses produced by the developed technology are distinguished by the next advantages: