Thermal shaping of thin glass substrates for segmented grazing incidence active optics

Abstract

In the context of the AHEAD project of the FP7 European call, a group of UK and Italian Institutions is proposing a research on X-ray optics that can provide large collecting areas (a few decades of m 2 ) combined with a high angular resolution (0.1-1 arcsec). This requires the development of Active X-ray Optics in which the reflecting surfaces can be adjusted-manipulated in order to achieve and maintain the correct shape. In the context of an international collaboration with UK institutes, the Astronomical Observatory of Brera (INAF-OAB) is in charge of the production of thin (0.4 mm or less) glass mirror segments for the demonstration of a 2-reflection active X-ray system including piezoelectric actuators to improve the angular resolution, For the shell segments production the hot slumping approach of glass foils, already under investigation for the realization of IXO mirrors, is adopted. In this paper, a detailed description of the method is presented, reporting also on the metrological data of produced samples.

Slumping technique for the manufacturing of a representative x-ray grazing incidence mirror module for future space missions

“…The technique has recently been employed for the realization of NuSTAR, however further developments are necessary to meet the outstanding requirements of future x-ray telescopes in terms of image resolution. Since several years, the Astronomical Observatory of Brera is involved in the development of the numerous aspects of a particular slumping technology [11], [12], usually referred to as the hot slumping technology with pressure assistance.…”

Thermal Forming of Glass — Experiment vs. Simulation

“…Thermal forming is a technique for shaping lightweight precise space X-ray mirrors that has been under development for several years. Teams working on the topic include the NASA team led by Dr. Zhang [7] working on the former CON-X project, an Italian group [8], and the Czech group consisting of people from CTU, ICT, the Astronomical Institute and Rigaku company, working on the former XEUS/IXO/Athena mission [9]. The principle of the technique is rather straightforward.…”

3D characterization of thin glass x-ray mirrors via optical profilometry

“…The AHEAD proposal is a natural continuation of this SXO research program and more performing reflecting segments will be used for the scope. Among the more attractive technologies for making the segments, the thin glass formed foils produced via hot slumping, the same previously mentioned method under study for making the IXO segmented shells, is particularly attractive 8 .…”