X-ray telescopes for the ESA XMM spacecraft
X-ray telescopes for the ESA XMM spacecraft
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用于 ESA XMM 航天器的 X 射线望远镜
DOI：
10.1117/12.331246
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发表时间：
1998
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Kees van Katwijk
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
D. de Chambure;R. Lainé;Kees van Katwijk
高通量x射线光谱任务XMM是ESA空间科学长期计划的“基石”项目。这个天文台定于1999年发射，在它的中心有三个密集嵌套的Wolter 1掠射x射线望远镜，这将提供一个大的收集区域。该光学系统的空间分辨率为16弧秒，当与反射光栅光谱仪和x射线CCD相机相结合时，它将在本世纪末为天体物理学提供重大进展。今年年初，经过两年密集生产的x射线反射镜和具有挑战性的x射线挡板加工后，所有四台飞行模型望远镜都已交付。在列日空间中心和马克斯普朗克研究所进行的测量表明，x射线的性能明显优于规格。本文首先简要介绍了望远镜的设计，重点介绍了x射线反射镜和x射线挡板的设计。然后对XMM望远镜四种飞行模型的x射线和光学测试结果进行了分析和比较。我们特别讨论了两个重要的问题：确定望远镜的焦距和通过实施x射线挡板来改进科学任务。最后，根据XMM的经验教训，对下一代超薄x射线反射镜进行了展望。
The high throughput x-ray spectroscopy mission XMM is a 'Cornerstone' Project in the ESA long term program for Space Science. This observatory, due to be launched in 1999, has at its heart three heavily nested Wolter 1 grazing incidence x-ray telescopes which will provide a large collecting area. This optical system has a spatial resolution of 16 arcsec and when coupled with reflection grating spectrometers and x-ray CCD cameras, it will provide a major advance in astrophysics by the end of the century. Beginning of this year, all the four Flight Model telescopes have been delivered, after two years of intense production of the x- ray mirrors and after a challenging machining of the x-ray baffle. The measurements carried out at the Center Spatial de Liege and at the Max Planck Institute indicate x-ray performance significantly better than the specifications. This paper first provides a concise description of the design of the telescope with the emphasis on the x-ray mirrors and the x-ray baffles. We then analyze and compare the x-ray and optical test results achieved on the four Flight Models of the XMM telescope. In particular, we address two important issues: the determination of the focal length of the telescopes and the improvement of the scientific mission by the implementation of an x-ray baffle. Finally, based on the lessons learned from XMM experience, the prospective on the next generation of ultra thin x-ray mirrors is also presented.