Lobster-eye x-ray optics: a rapid evaluation of the image distribution

A method for calculating the image distribution for one-dimensional lobster-eye optics is presented. This method gives the image distribution exactly for certain cases and offers improved speed over the method of ray tracing. Examples of the use of the algorithm are given. We show that the algorithm gives the same results as detailed ray-tracing codes. Extension of the method to the two-dimensional case is discussed.