Minimization of the shadow patterns produced by periodic mesh grids in extreme ultraviolet telescopes

Thin metallic films are used as passband filters in space telescopes operating in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Because of their thinness, typically 100 to 200nm, they are very sensitive to static pressure differentials and to mechanic and acoustic vibrations. Therefore, they are difficult to manage in all phases of a space program, from manufacturing to vacuum testing to launch. A common solution to this problem is to reinforce them with fine mesh grids with pitches ranging from a few hundred micrometers to a few millimeters. Depending on their location in the optical path, the main effect of these periodic grids is either to diffract light or to cast penumbral shadows on the focal plane. In this paper, we analyze the formation of the shadow modulation patterns and derive design rules to minimize their amplitude. The minimization principle is illustrated by an application to a solar EUV telescope. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America