Development of thin-shell adaptive optics for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

Feldman, Charlotte; Willingale, R.; Atkins, Carolyn; Wang, Hongchang; Doel, P.; Thompson, S.; Button, Tim W.; Zhang, Dou; Sanmartin, Daniel Rodriguez; James, Ady; Theobald, Craig

doi:10.1117/12.788759

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Second, UoL used its ray-tracing code ("Q") to predict x-ray imaging performance 24 . Starting with FEA-computed surface deviations, the ray-trace software simulated the ideal performance of the elliptical mirror, effects of gravitational distortion, and the consequences of surface adjustments using the actuators.…”

Section: Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward active x-ray telescopes

O’Dell¹,

Gubarev²,

Kolodziejczak³

et al. 2011

SPIE Proceedings

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Future x-ray observatories will require high-resolution (< 1″) optics with very-large-aperture (> 25 m 2 ) areas. Even with the next generation of heavy-lift launch vehicles, launch-mass constraints and aperture-area requirements will limit the areal density of the grazing-incidence mirrors to about 1 kg/m 2 or less. Achieving sub-arcsecond x-ray imaging with such lightweight mirrors will require excellent mirror surfaces, precise and stable alignment, and exceptional stiffness or deformation compensation. Attaining and maintaining alignment and figure control will likely involve active (in-space adjustable) x-ray optics. In contrast with infrared and visible astronomy, active optics for x-ray astronomy is in its infancy. In the middle of the past decade, two efforts began to advance technologies for adaptive x-ray telescopes: The Smart X-ray Optics (SXO) Basic Technology project in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Generation-X (Gen-X) concept studies in the United States (US). This paper discusses relevant technological issues and summarizes progress toward active x-ray telescopes.

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Section: Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward active x-ray telescopes

O’Dell¹,

Gubarev²,

Kolodziejczak³

et al. 2011

SPIE Proceedings

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…9 The optic is an elliptical segment and the ellipse size and shape is governed by the size of the testing facility and provided a simple single reflection, point-to-point focusing test for the optic. In order to make the prototype easier to manufacture, the axis of the ellipse was tilted from the axis of the TTF.…”

Section: Prototype Design and Manufacturementioning

confidence: 99%

The performance of thin shell adaptive optics for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

et al. 2010

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The Smart X-ray Optics project is a UK based consortium of five institutions investigating active/adaptive X-ray optics for both large and small scale applications. The large scale application is aimed towards future X-ray telescopes for X-ray astronomy. The work presented here includes the modelling and the testing of the new large scale prototype thin shell optic which incorporates piezoelectric devices to enable the surface to be actively deformed aiming to achieve an angular resolution better than that currently available (e.g. Chandra 0.5"). As the shell is thin, a high degree of nesting is possible such that very large collecting areas can be provided in combination with the high angular resolution. The results from the testing campaign for this prototype in the X-ray beam line at the University of Leicester will be presented. The effect of the actuated piezoelectric devices on the detected image and software development for control of the system are discussed. Improvement of the Full width Half Maximum of the focus spot of up to 25% was seen but as yet this has not been completed in a controlled way. The surface figure achieved with a given set of voltages is stable, but an apparent interaction or coupling between the piezoelectric devices was detected and is still unexplained.

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“…8 The optic is an elliptical segment and the ellipse size and shape was governed by the size of the testing facility and provided a simple single reflection, point-to-point focusing test for the optic. In order to make the prototype easier to manufacture, the axis of the ellipse was tilted from the axis of the TTF.…”

Section: Prototype Design and Manufacturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The series of orthogonal basis patterns created using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method as shown in Feldman et al8 The actuators were set to values between -1 (black) and 1 (white) and then multiplied by the required voltage.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

First results from the testing of the thin shell adaptive optic prototype for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

et al. 2009

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The Smart X-ray Optics project is a UK based consortium of six institutions investigating active/adaptive X-ray optics for both large and small scale applications. The large scale application is aimed towards future high angular resolution, large X-ray telescopes for X-ray astronomy. The work presented here includes the modelling and the testing of the large scale prototype optic. The prototype incorporates piezoelectric devices to a standard X-ray shell to enable the surface to be actively deformed, aiming to achieve an angular resolution better than that currently available (e.g. Chandra 0.5"). The initial design is based on a thin nickel ellipsoid segment on the back of which a series of piezoelectric actuators have been bonded. Results from the initial testing of this prototype in the X-ray beam line at the University of Leicester are presented and simulation of the X-ray performance, the effect of the actuated piezoelectric devices on the detected image and further models are discussed.

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Development of thin-shell adaptive optics for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

Cited by 10 publications

References 9 publications

Toward active x-ray telescopes

Toward active x-ray telescopes

The performance of thin shell adaptive optics for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

First results from the testing of the thin shell adaptive optic prototype for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes

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