D. Rodriguez-Sanmartin

TL;DR: In this paper, two new prototype adaptive X-ray optical systems are under development with the aim of approaching the fundamental diffraction limit, one of which is micro-structured optical arrays (MOAs) involving two or four piezoelectric strips bonded to a silicon wafer to produce a micro-focused Xray source for biological applications, and which uses grazing incidence reflection through consecutive aligned arrays of channels obtained using deep silicon etching.

TL;DR: In this article, the UK Smart X-Ray Optics programme is developing the techniques required to both enhance the performance of existing X-ray systems, such as Xray telescopes, while also extending the utility of Xray optics to a broader class of scientific investigation.

TL;DR: The Smart X-ray Optics project is a UK-based consortium of five institutions investigating active/adaptive Xray optics for both large and small scale applications as discussed by the authors, which includes the modelling and the testing of a large scale prototype thin shell optic which incorporates piezoelectric devices to enable the surface to be actively deformed aiming to achieve an angular resolution better than that currently available.

TL;DR: The incorporation of an ultrasound device within the type of biopsy needles commonly used as an interventional tool to provide immediate feedback to neurosurgeons during surgical procedures is proposed to tackle the issue of brain deformations and displacements that occur during surgery.

TL;DR: The UK Smart X-Ray Optics (SXO) programme is developing active/adaptive optics for terrestrial applications as discussed by the authors, which focus X-rays using grazing incidence reflection through consecutive aligned arrays of microscopic channels.