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Affordable and Lightweight High-Resolution X-ray Optics for Astronomical MissionsFuture x-ray astronomical missions require x-ray mirror assemblies that provide both high angular resolution and large photon collecting area. In addition, as x-ray astronomy undertakes more sensitive sky surveys, a large field of view is becoming increasingly important as well. Since implementation of these requirements must be carried out in broad political and economical contexts, any technology that meets these performance requirements must also be financially affordable and can be implemented on a reasonable schedule. In this paper we report on progress of an x-ray optics development program that has been designed to address all of these requirements. The program adopts the segmented optical design, thereby is capable of making both small and large mirror assemblies for missions of any size. This program has five technical elements: (1) fabrication of mirror substrates, (2) coating, (3) alignment, (4) bonding, and (5) mirror module systems engineering and testing. In the past year we have made progress in each of these five areas, advancing the angular resolution of mirror modules from 10.8 arc-seconds half-power diameter reported (HPD) a year ago to 8.3 arc-seconds now. These mirror modules have been subjected to and passed all environmental tests, including vibration, acoustic, and thermal vacuum. As such this technology is ready for implementing a mission that requires a 10-arc-second mirror assembly. Further development in the next two years would make it ready for a mission requiring a 5-arc-second mirror assembly. We expect that, by the end of this decade, this technology would enable the x-ray astrophysical community to compete effectively for a major x-ray mission in the 2020s that would require one or more 1-arc-second mirror assemblies for imaging, spectroscopic, timing, and survey studies.
Document ID
20160005048
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Zhang, W. W.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Biskach, M. P.
(Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bly, V. T.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Carter, J. M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Chan, K. W.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Gaskin, J. A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hong, M.
(Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hohl, B. R.
(Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies, Inc. (SGT, Inc.) Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Jones, W. D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Kolodziejczak, J. J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
April 14, 2016
Publication Date
July 24, 2014
Publication Information
Publication: Proceedings of SPIE
Publisher: SPIE
Volume: 9144
Subject Category
Astronomy
Instrumentation And Photography
Optics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN31207
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12CR31C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12CR29C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
glass slumping
silicon mirror
lightweight optics
mirror bonding
X-ray optics
mirror alignment

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