Next generation astronomical x-ray optics: high angular resolution, light weight, and low production cost
Next generation astronomical x-ray optics: high angular resolution, light weight, and low production cost
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下一代天文X射线光学器件：角分辨率高、重量轻、生产成本低
DOI：
10.1117/12.926034
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发表时间：
2012
期刊：
影响因子：
15.1
通讯作者：
M. Sharpe
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
W. Zhang;M. Biskach;Peter Blake;Kai;J. Gaskin;M. Hong;William D. Jones;L. Kolos;J. Mazzarella;Ryan Mcclelland;S. O'Dell;T. Saha;M. Sharpe
X射线天文学取决于是否有高分辨率和大光子收集面积的望远镜。由于天文X射线观测只能在大气层上方进行，因此这些望远镜一定很轻。复合轻量化的要求是，X射线望远镜由许多嵌套的同心壳体组成，这进一步要求X射线反射镜必须几何上薄才能达到高包装效率。这一双重要求--重量轻、几何厚度薄--对制造反射镜和将其集成到反射镜组件中构成了重大的技术挑战。本文报告了我们的计划的方法、策略和现状，以适当的成本开发满足这些技术挑战的X射线光学。这项技术计划的目标是实现未来的X射线任务--包括近期的小型探测器任务、中期的探测器级任务和长期区域的大型旗舰任务。由于天文X射线观测只能在大气层上方进行，因此这些望远镜一定很轻。复合轻量化的要求是，X射线望远镜由许多嵌套的同心壳体组成，这进一步要求X射线反射镜必须几何上薄才能达到高包装效率。这一双重要求--重量轻、几何厚度薄--对制造反射镜和将其集成到反射镜组件中构成了重大的技术挑战。本文报告了我们的计划的方法、策略和现状，以适当的成本开发满足这些技术挑战的X射线光学。这项技术计划的目标是实现未来的X射线任务--包括近期的小型探测器任务、中期的探测器级任务和长期的大型旗舰任务。
X-ray astronomy depends upon the availability of telescopes with high resolution and large photon colleX-ray astronomy depends upon the availability of telescopes with high resolution and large photon collecting areas. As astronomical x-ray observations can only be carried out above the atmosphere, these telescopes must necessarily be lightweight. Compounding the lightweight requirement is that an x-ray telescope consists of many nested concentric shells, which further requires that x-ray mirrors must be geometrically thin to achieve high packing efficiency. This double requirement—lightweight and geometrically thin—poses significant technical challenges in fabricating the mirrors and in integrating them into mirror assemblies. This paper reports on the approach, strategy, and status of our program to develop x-ray optics meeting these technical challenges at modest cost. The objective of this technology program is to enable future x-ray missions—including small Explorer missions in the near term, probe class missions in the medium term, and large flagship missions in the long term.ing areas. As astronomical x-ray observations can only be carried out above the atmosphere, these telescopes must necessarily be lightweight. Compounding the lightweight requirement is that an x-ray telescope consists of many nested concentric shells, which further requires that x-ray mirrors must be geometrically thin to achieve high packing efficiency. This double requirement—lightweight and geometrically thin—poses significant technical challenges in fabricating the mirrors and in integrating them into mirror assemblies. This paper reports on the approach, strategy, and status of our program to develop x-ray optics meeting these technical challenges at modest cost. The objective of this technology program is to enable future x-ray missions—including small Explorer missions in the near term, probe class missions in the medium term, and large flagship missions in the long term.