X-ray optic developments at NASA's MSFC

Abstract

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has a successful history of fabricating optics for astronomical x-ray telescopes. In recent years optics have been created using electroforming replication for missions such as the balloon payload HERO (High energy replicated optics) and the rocket payload FOXSI (Focusing Optics x-ray Solar Imager). The same replication process is currently being used in the creation seven x-ray mirror modules (one module comprising of 28 nested shells) for the Russian ART-XC (Astronomical Rontgen Telescope) instrument aboard the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma mission and for large-diameter mirror shells for the Micro-X rocket payload.In addition to MSFC's optics fabrication, there are also several areas of research and development to create the high resolution light weight optics which are required by future x-ray telescopes. Differential deposition is one technique which aims to improve the angular resolution of lightweight optics through depositing a filler material to smooth out fabrication imperfections. Following on from proof of concept studies, two new purpose built coating chambers are being assembled to apply this deposition technique to astronomical x-ray optics. Furthermore, MSFC aims to broaden its optics fabrication through the recent acquisition of a Zeeko IRP 600 robotic polishing machine. This paper will provide a summary of the current missions and research and development being undertaken at NASA's MSFC.

Polishing Approaches at Atomic and Close-to-Atomic Scale

“…This multi-axis structure allows the BP approach to be applied to freeform polishing. Following their research on tool path planning [ 143 ], physical mechanisms [ 144 ], and control of edge mis-figure [ 145 ], Zeeko extended the range of IRP series: IRP 50 and IRP 100 [ 146 ] for small parts, IRP 400 and IRP 600 [ 147 ] for medium-sized parts, and IRP 1200 [ 148 ], IRP 1600, and IRP 2400 [ 149 ] for larger parts were developed.…”

Circularly polarized EM radiation from GW binary sources

“…Precise measurement of GRB polarization is one of the main goals for future GRB observations which can yield valuable information about the radiation mechanisms and the photon interactions, especially photon-graviton interaction. Several polarimeters are expected to be launched within several years [50,[52][53][54][55], such as the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE), the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) and the Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources (PRAXyS). These instruments might be able to detect the polarization signals from photon-graviton interaction accompanying binary mergers and can shed light on the nature of this interaction.…”

Development status of adjustable grazing incidence optics for 0.5 arcsecond x-ray imaging

“…Alternatively, why not develop some other technique which does not require electrical control of the mirrors on-orbit? Alternatives under development include (at least) non-contact thermal forming with ion implantation 6 , single-crystal silicon machined mirrors 7 , magnetostrictive adjustable mirrors 8 that are adjusted only during fabrication, and differential deposition 9 . The answer to the question lies in the competing requirements of large effective area and high angular resolution.…”