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Slope measuring deflectometry is commonly used by the X-ray optics community to measure the long-spatial-wavelength surface figure error of optical components dedicated to guide and focus X-rays under grazing incidence condition at synchrotron and free electron laser beamlines. The best performing instruments of this kind are capable of absolute accuracy on the level of 30-50 nrad. However, the exact bandwidth of the measurements, determined at the higher spatial frequencies by the instrument's spatial resolution, or more generally by the instrument's modulation transfer function (MTF) is hard to determine. An MTF calibration method based on application of a test surface with a one-dimensional (1D) chirped height profile of constant amplitude was suggested in the past. In this work, we propose a new approach to designing the test surfaces with a 2D-chirped topography, specially optimized for MTF characterization of slope measuring instruments. The design of the developed MTF test samples based on the proposed linear chirped slope profiles (LCSPs) is free of the major drawback of the 1D chirped height profiles, where in the slope domain, the amplitude strongly increases with the local spatial frequency of the profile. We provide the details of fabrication of the LCSP samples. The results of first application of the developed test samples to measure the spatial resolution of the BESSY-NOM at different experimental arrangements are also presented and discussed.

New manufacturing chains for precise fabrication of asphere and freeform optical surfaces including atmospheric Plasma Jet Machining (PJM) technology will be presented. PJM is based on deterministic plasma-assisted material removal. It has the potential for flexible and cost-efficient shape generation and correction of small and medium-sized optical freeform elements. The paper discusses the interactions between the plasma tools and optical fused silica samples in the context of the pre-machined and intermediate surface states and identifies several plasma jet machining methods for freeform generation, surface correction, and finishing as well as suitable auxiliary polishing methods. The successful application of either processing chain is demonstrated.

Deflectometric profilometers based on industrial electronic autocollimators (ACs), as the ELCOMAT-3000, have become indispensable tools for precision form measurements of optical surfaces. A growing number of labs at synchrotron and free electron laser x-ray facilities are going for BESSY-II NOM-like versions of the AC-based profilometers. These tools have proven capable of characterizing state-of-the-art aspherical x-ray optics with an accuracy on the level of 100 nrad (root-mean-square) over the spatial frequency range limited by the size of the aperture used in the profilometer. Typically, a round aperture with a diameter of about 2.5 mm is used. Previous investigations have shown that with the optimally aligned 2.5-mm aperture, the spatial resolution of a NOM-like profilometer corresponding to the first zero-crossing of the optical transform function (OTF) is ∼1.2 mm. In this paper, we investigate the performance of an AC ELCOMAT-3000 for a slope profilometer with different aperture sizes and shapes. The results of angular calibration of the AC equipped with circular and rectangular apertures placed at different distances from the AC are discussed. The calibration was performed at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt using the original experimental arrangements, also discussed in the paper. The OTF measurements with the specially developed test sample with chirped surface slope profiles were performed at the Advanced Light Source X-Ray Optics Laboratory (XROL) in application to a new optical surface measuring system under development at the XROL. In the OTF measurements, we have shown that application of a rectangular aperture with dimensions of 1.5 mm × 3 mm improves the spatial resolution in the tangential direction by a factor of ∼1.4 compared to that of the standard circular aperture of 2.5-mm diameter. We believe that the results of our investigations are crucial for reaching fundamental metrological limits in deflectometric profilometry utilizing state-of-the-art electronic autocollimators.

Using scanning X-ray diffraction microscopy with a spot size of 220 x 600 nm, it was possible to inspect individual GaAs nanorods grown seed-free through circular openings in a SiN(x) mask in a periodic array with 3 microm spacing on GaAs[111]B. The focused X-ray beam allows the determination of the strain state of individual rods and, in combination with coherent diffraction imaging, it was also possible to characterize morphological details. Rods grown either in the centre or at the edge of the array show significant differences in shape, size and strain state.

After storage for more than one year the SCN(-)-content of udder lymph was not changed seriously, but in blood serum and mainly in milk, there is an evident decrease. In lactational cows with healthy udders the SCN(-)-content of blood plasma is higher than in milk (in average twice). There is no difference of the SCN(-)-content of the four udder parts of healthy cows. Decrease of milk production (10. to 13. lactational month) causes an increase of the SCN(-)-content of the milk, it is not changed in subclinical mastitis. In lactational cows with healthy udders the SCN(-)-content of udder lymph is nearly triple higher in average than in milk of the corresponding quarter of the udder. The existence of a common compartment of SCN- in blood and udder lymph is assumed, which is separated from them of the milk by the blood udder barrier.

Feed containing rapeseed meal (RSM) with high glucosinolate content (10 mmol/kg feed) induced a strong increase of thyroid weight in pigs and poultry. Supplementary iodine reduced the antithyroid effect, but, it could not cancel it. Only at a low glucosinolate content (0.7 mmol/kg feed) a normal weight of thyroid was established. As the iodine supplementation increased the serum T4 value increased. The thiocyanate serum level increased irrespective of glucosinolate content of the feed. The urine level was significantly decreased due to lower dietary glucosinolate level. Obviously, the goitrogenic effect of the RSM does not correlate with the increased thiocyanate serum level.