Kinematic alignment and bonding of silicon mirrors for high-resolution astronomical x-ray optics

Chan, Kai-Wing; Mazzarella, James R.; Saha, Timo T.; Zhang, William W.; McClelland, Ryan S.; Biskach, Michael P.; Riveros, Raul E.; Allgood, Kim D.; Kearney, John D.; Sharpe, Marton; Hlinka, Michal; Numata, Ai

doi:10.1117/12.2271464

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…With that assumption, the plot for Half Power Diameter (HPD) by axial spacing can be seen in Figure 2 The frozen in distortion for mirror pairs mounted on the quarter azimuths appears to reach its minimum between 54mm and 56mm axial spacing. This result agrees well with the calculated locations for a beam with zero slope at the mounting points (aforementioned 55.05mm), and is very close to the 56mm spacing that has been used in all alignment and mounting efforts to date [5]. The kinematic nature of the four point mount allows for fine tuning of mirror alignment using a precision polishing process to adjust the height of the four spacers.…”

Section: Post Spacing Optimizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

Structural analysis and testing of silicon x-ray mirror modules

Solly

Biskach

Bonafede

et al. 2019

Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX

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The fundamental developmental issue facing the next generation of X-ray astronomical telescopes is the manufacturability, assembly, and structural robustness of the grazing incidence optics. Combining the high angular resolution requirements with large effective areas and physical launch vehicle restrictions leads to very thin shelled optics that must remain very stable. Meeting these stability requirements while also surviving launch and space environments presents a significant engineering challenge. Over the last few years, the Next Generation X-ray Optics (NGXO) team at NASA Goddard has been developing thin segmented silicon optics that are assembled into both modules and meta-shells, which show great promise in meeting these challenges. This paper summarizes the analytical approaches, as well as the environmental tests, used to assess such assemblies. Many parameters in the design space of the assembly have been assessed and optimized using Finite Element (FE) models and ray trace algorithms. The results of these analyses have helped shape reasonable and justifiable error budgets, as well as guide the team's decision making in both near and long term processes. The structural integrity of an assembly has been assessed both with testing and FE models. Preliminary strength testing has been conducted on the basic components used in the assembly.

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Section: Post Spacing Optimizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

Structural analysis and testing of silicon x-ray mirror modules

Solly

Biskach

Bonafede

et al. 2019

Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX

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“…Structural analyses and vibration tests have shown that this way of bonding mirror segments can meet spaceflight environmental requirements. Recent X-ray measurements were made on a single pair of uncoated, 1-mm thick mono-crystalline silicon mirrors on a technology development mount, obtaining X-ray images better than 5 arcsecond HPD 12 , demonstrating that this method has the potential of meeting imaging performance requirements as well. Work in the near-term will focus on improving both the mirror fabrication process and the mirror alignment and bonding process, making mirror modules with evermore mirror segments, X-ray testing as well as environmentally testing these modules.…”

Section: Mono-crystalline Si Meta-shell Opticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lynx Mission concept status

Gaskin

Allured

Bandler

et al. 2017

UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX

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Lynx is a concept under study for prioritization in the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Providing orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity over Chandra, Lynx will examine the first black holes and their galaxies, map the large-scale structure and galactic halos, and shed new light on the environments of young stars and their planetary systems. In order to meet the Lynx science goals, the telescope consists of a high-angular resolution optical assembly complemented by an instrument suite that may include a High Definition X-ray Imager, X-ray Microcalorimeter and an X-ray Grating Spectrometer. The telescope is integrated onto the spacecraft to form a comprehensive observatory concept. Progress on the formulation of the Lynx telescope and observatory configuration is reported in this paper.

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“…6,7 Further work remains to demonstrate this segment coating and coating stress compensation approach in a production-like environment. Similarly, module integration development is currently focused on meeting science requirements at the single mirror pair level using full illumination X-ray performance tests, [8][9][10] yet multiple pair modules that pass all environment and performance tests at a production level remains to be demonstrated. Table 1 summarizes the significant fabrication steps required in each phase of production.…”

Section: Current State Of Polished Silicon Optics Technology Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass manufacturing of high resolution and lightweight monocrystalline silicon x-ray mirror modules

Biskach

Allgood

Chan

et al. 2019

Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX

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Astronomical observations of distant and faint X-ray sources will expand our understanding of the evolving universe. These challenging science goals require X-ray optical elements that are manufactured, measured, coated, aligned, assembled, and tested at scale. The Next Generation X-ray Optics (NGXO) group at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is developing solutions to the challenges faced in planning, constructing, and integrating X-ray optics for future telescopes such as the Lynx Large Mission concept for the Astro2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, Probe Mission concepts AXIS, TAP, and HEX-P, the Explorer Mission concepts STAR-X and FORCE and the sub-orbital mission OGRE. The lightweight mirror segments, efficiently manufactured from blocks of commercially available monocrystalline silicon, are coated, aligned, and fixed in modular form. This paper discusses our first attempt to encapsulate our technology experience and knowledge into a model to meet the challenge of engineering and production of the many modules required for a spaceflight mission. Through parallel lines of fabrication, assembly, and testing, as well as the use of existing high throughput industrial technologies, ∼10 4 coated X-ray mirror segments can be integrated into ∼10 3 modules adhering to a set budget and schedule that survive environmental testing and approach the diffraction limit.

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Kinematic alignment and bonding of silicon mirrors for high-resolution astronomical x-ray optics

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Structural analysis and testing of silicon x-ray mirror modules

Structural analysis and testing of silicon x-ray mirror modules

Lynx Mission concept status

Mass manufacturing of high resolution and lightweight monocrystalline silicon x-ray mirror modules

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