Since 2023, JJ X-Ray andhave been collaborating on the JJ X-Ray and Palm Scientific have entered into a collaborative agreement focused on the development of Compound Refractive Lenses (CRLs) made from Single Crystal Diamonds (SCDs). JJ X-Ray serves as the exclusive distributor for PALM Scientific’s diamond lenses. This collaboration underscores JJ X-Ray’s commitment to advancing innovative technologies in the field.

Single crystal diamond lenses are claiming an increasing share of the market for synchrotron optics. Especially for applications with high energies and where coherence preservation is important, their high thermal stability and conductivity as well as their low background scattering have been proven to be important assets.

Compared to other ways of x-ray beam focussing, Compound Refractive Lenses (CRL) have a number of benefits. CRL-systems are easy to align and they
maintain the x-ray beam trajectory. Moreover, compared to mirrors, they are about a factor 100 less sensitive to vibrations.

Optimization of the machining process of diamond lenses has resulted in the commercial availability of high quality diamond lenses with low form factor errors. Diamond lenses were compared to beryllium lenses at the ESRF and show comparable results but with a markedly lower background signal than beryllium. The full comparison can be found in Celestre et al 2022.

We are continually working on improving the lenses, and discounts are given to customers wishing to upgrade their SCD lenses to a later generation. Generation IV is available now, for an overview of the latest developments, watch the recording of our community meeting.