Alignment system for full-shell replicated x-ray mirrors

Abstract

We are developing grazing-incidence x-ray optics for high-energy astrophysical applications using the electroformnickel replication process. For space-based applications these optics must be light-weight yet stable, which dictates the use of very-thin-walled full-shell mirrors. Such shells have been fabricated with resolution as good as 1 1arcsec for hard x-rays, and technology enhancements under development at MSFC are aimed at producing mirrors with resolution better than 10 arcsec. The challenge, however, is to preserve this resolution during mounting and assembly. We present here a status report on a mounting and alignment system currently under development at Marshall Space Flight Center designed to meet this challenge.

Optics for the imaging x-ray polarimetry explorer

“…For past programs at MSFC, a mirror shell has typically been supported on pins that can be used to manipulate it and center it in the spider comb grooves for bonding. 10 For IXPE, however, the mirror shells are too thin for this approach, and they distort at the support points. This distortion would then be incorporated into the nearby bonded joints, degrading angular resolution.…”

Full-shell x-ray optics development at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

“…Custom designed clips are also used as an interface between the mirror and the spider, which help to redirect distortions into the tangential direction. 12 A specially designed hanging-wire approach is also being used for the alignment and assembly of current optics in order to offload stress [see Fig. 7(b)].…”