Alignment and bonding of silicon mirrors for high-resolution astronomical  x-ray optics

Kai-Wing Chan; James R. Mazzarella; Timo T. Saha; William W. Zhang; Ryan S. McClelland; Michael P. Biskach; Peter M. Solly; Raul E. Riveros; Ai Numata

doi:10.1117/12.2312562

6 July 2018 Alignment and bonding of silicon mirrors for high-resolution astronomical x-ray optics

Kai-Wing Chan, James R. Mazzarella, Timo T. Saha, William W. Zhang, Ryan S. McClelland, Michael P. Biskach, Peter M. Solly, Raul E. Riveros, Ai Numata

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 1069940 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312562
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

Recent advances in the fabrication of silicon mirrors and their alignment and integration methods make it possible to build large-area, lightweight, high-resolution x-ray telescopes with arc-second angular resolution. Such a telescope, having simultaneously arc-second resolution and large (> 1 m² ) collecting area, has never been built before and it will revolutionize high energy astronomy. For such optics, the challenges are twofold: fabrication of high quality mirror segments and precise integration of thousands of these mirrors to a common sharp focus. In this paper, we address the technology for the mirror integration carried out at Goddard Space Flight Center and report the recent result of making such high-resolution optics. We address the crucial technology components: positioning a mirror, measuring its focus, adjusting its mount pointsto optimize the focus, bonding the mirror, and co-alignment of mirrors. We also present the latest x-ray test results that demonstrate the efficacy of such methods and address areas for further improvement. Presently, mirrors built this way have a resolution of 2²-3² HPD (half-ower diameter).

Citation Download Citation

Kai-Wing Chan, James R. Mazzarella, Timo T. Saha, William W. Zhang, Ryan S. McClelland, Michael P. Biskach, Peter M. Solly, Raul E. Riveros, and Ai Numata "Alignment and bonding of silicon mirrors for high-resolution astronomical x-ray optics", Proc. SPIE 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 1069940 (6 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312562

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available