Lightweight and high angular resolution x-ray optics for astronomical missions

W. W. Zhang; M. P. Biskach; P. N. Blake; K. W. Chan; T. C. Evans; M. L. Hong; W. D. Jones; L. D. Kolos; J. M. Mazzarella; R. S. McClelland; S. L. O'Dell; T. T. Saha; M. V. Sharpe

doi:10.1117/12.893697

6 October 2011 Lightweight and high angular resolution x-ray optics for astronomical missions

W. W. Zhang, M. P. Biskach, P. N. Blake, K. W. Chan, T. C. Evans, M. L. Hong, W. D. Jones, L. D. Kolos, J. M. Mazzarella, R. S. McClelland, S. L. O'Dell, T. T. Saha, M. V. Sharpe

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8147, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy V; 81470K (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.893697
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

X-ray optics of both high angular resolution and light weight are essential for advancing x-ray astrophysics. High angular resolution is important for avoiding source confusion and reducing background, thus allowing observation of the most distant objects in the early Universe. It is also important in enabling gratings to achieve high spectral resolution, to study the myriad plasmas in planetary, stellar, and galactic environments, as well as inter-planetary, inter-stellar, and inter-galactic media. Light weight is essential for further increasing photon collection area: X-ray observations must be performed from space, where mass available for a telescope has always been and is expected to continue to be quite limited. This paper reports on a program to develop x-ray optics satisfying these two requirements. The objective of this technology program is to enable Explorer-class missions in the near term and facility-class missions in the long term.

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W. W. Zhang, M. P. Biskach, P. N. Blake, K. W. Chan, T. C. Evans, M. L. Hong, W. D. Jones, L. D. Kolos, J. M. Mazzarella, R. S. McClelland, S. L. O'Dell, T. T. Saha, and M. V. Sharpe "Lightweight and high angular resolution x-ray optics for astronomical missions", Proc. SPIE 8147, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy V, 81470K (6 October 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.893697

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