X-ray optics at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Stephen L. O'Dell; Carolyn Atkins; David M. Broadway; Ronald F. Elsner; Jessica A. Gaskin; Mikhail V. Gubarev; Kiranmayee Kilaru; Jeffery J. Kolodziejczak; Brian D. Ramsey; Jacqueline M. Roche; Douglas A. Swartz; Allyn F. Tennant; Martin C. Weisskopf; Vyacheslav E. Zavlin

doi:10.1117/12.2179415

15 May 2015 X-ray optics at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Stephen L. O'Dell, Carolyn Atkins, David M. Broadway, Ronald F. Elsner, Jessica A. Gaskin, Mikhail V. Gubarev, Kiranmayee Kilaru, Jeffery J. Kolodziejczak, Brian D. Ramsey, Jacqueline M. Roche, Douglas A. Swartz, Allyn F. Tennant, Martin C. Weisskopf, Vyacheslav E. Zavlin

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9510, EUV and X-ray Optics: Synergy between Laboratory and Space IV; 951003 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179415
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2015, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) engages in research, development, design, fabrication, coating, assembly, and testing of grazing-incidence optics (primarily) for x-ray telescope systems. Over the past two decades, MSFC has refined processes for electroformed-nickel replication of grazing-incidence optics, in order to produce highstrength, thin-walled, full-cylinder x-ray mirrors. In recent years, MSFC has used this technology to fabricate numerous x-ray mirror assemblies for several flight (balloon, rocket, and satellite) programs. Additionally, MSFC has demonstrated the suitability of this technology for ground-based laboratory applications—namely, x-ray microscopes and cold-neutron microscopes and concentrators. This mature technology enables the production, at moderately low cost, of reasonably lightweight x-ray telescopes with good (15–30 arcsecond) angular resolution. However, achieving arcsecond imaging for a lightweight x-ray telescope likely requires development of other technologies. Accordingly, MSFC is conducting a multi-faceted research program toward enabling cost-effective production of lightweight high-resolution x-ray mirror assemblies. Relevant research topics currently under investigation include differential deposition for post-fabrication figure correction, in-situ monitoring and control of coating stress, and direct fabrication of thin-walled full-cylinder grazing-incidence mirrors.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen L. O'Dell, Carolyn Atkins, David M. Broadway, Ronald F. Elsner, Jessica A. Gaskin, Mikhail V. Gubarev, Kiranmayee Kilaru, Jeffery J. Kolodziejczak, Brian D. Ramsey, Jacqueline M. Roche, Douglas A. Swartz, Allyn F. Tennant, Martin C. Weisskopf, and Vyacheslav E. Zavlin "X-ray optics at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center", Proc. SPIE 9510, EUV and X-ray Optics: Synergy between Laboratory and Space IV, 951003 (15 May 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2179415

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