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The facility is compact (just 8 m x 14 m). Thanks to an innovative optical design based on an asymmetrical-cut crystal associated with a paraboloidal grazing incidence mirror, it can produce an expanded X-ray beam (170 mm x 60 mm) with low divergence (about 2 arcsec measured for the 4.51 keV beamline) at the two monochromatic energies of 4.51 keV and 1.49 keV. This allows us to calibrate each SPO MM's Effective Area and Point Spread Function precisely.
The first beamline, at 4.51 keV photon energy, is already operational, as the commissioning was completed in Q1-2023. The second beamline, at 1.49 keV energy, is being developed. It presents some more challenging aspects from both the design and implementation points of view. The monochromator stage is based on two Quartz (100); two ADP asymmetric-cut crystals (101) will provide the horizontal expansion of the beam. The X-ray source needs to be very brilliant (5 x 1011 - 1012 ph/s/sterad) due to the large fraction of photons rejected by the crystals.
This paper describes the ongoing activities. It will present the results of the 4.51 keV X-ray beamline optimization and the tests performed on a coated MM. It will also describe the progress in implementing the 1.49 keV components and discuss the comparison with other X-ray testing facilities.
The Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) enables the NewAthena mission, delivering an unprecedented combination of good angular resolution, large effective area and low mass. The SPO technology builds significantly on spin-in from the semiconductor industry and is designed to allow a cost-effective flight optics implementation, compliant with the programmatic requirements of the mission.
The NewAthena X-ray optics is highly modular, consisting of hundreds of compact mirror modules arranged in concentric circles and mounted on a metallic optical bench. All aspects of the optics are being developed in parallel, from the industrial production of the mirror plates, over the highly efficient assembly into mirror modules, to the alignment of the mirror modules and their fixation on the optical bench. Dedicated facilities are being built to measure the performance of the NewAthena X-ray telescope optics, demonstrating their compatibility with the environmental and scientific requirements.
An overview is provided of the activities preparing the implementation of the NewATHENA optics.
We present in this paper the status of the optics production and illustrate not only recent X-ray results but also the progress made on the environmental testing, manufacturing and assembly aspects of SPO based optics.
The abbreviation “eXTP” represents the enhanced x-ray timing and polarimetry, which is a key science mission initiated by the Chinese scientists, designed to study the state of matter under extreme conditions of density, gravity and magnetism [1]. Various payloads would be on board of the satellite. The SFA, namely the spectroscopy focusing array, consisting of nine identical x-ray telescopes working in the energy range of 0.5-10 keV, will be the focus here [1]. SFA has a field-of-view of 12 arcmin for each and a collecting area of 900 cm2 and 550 cm2 for each at 2 keV and 6 keV respectively [1].
This paper starts with a brief introduction of the general optics, and then goes across some important design aspects. It covers contents from the structural and thermal designs to the CAE analyses as well as the current status. The large diameter and huge focal length of the optics will definitely bring big issues to the robustness of the carrying structure under the severe conditions given by the launcher.
According to the current design, the mirror assembly will have 3 feet and 24 spokes. Vibration tests were already performed on a few prototypes by IHEP, and a preliminary evaluation on the feasibility of the design has been achieved. It clearly stated that the current design with only a single spider can probably survive the vibration tests assuming a compromised test condition somewhere. CAE models were adjusted thereafter to match the test results, which could be used for further assessments in a near future.
Of course, there are always uncertainties associated with our arguments. More detailed prototypes with mechanically fully representative shells were still under design. Hopefully, highly reliable results could be retrieved soon.
To overcome these limitations, we started in 2012 to design a facility aimed at generating a broad (170 x 60 mm2), uniform and low-divergent (1.5 arcsec HEW) X-ray beam within a small lab (∼ 9 x 18 m2), to characterize the ATHENA MM. BEaTriX (the Beam Expander Testing X-ray facility) makes use of an X-ray microfocus source, a paraboloidal mirror, a crystal monochromation system, and an asymmetrically-cut diffracting crystal for the beam expansion. These optical components, in addition to a modular low-vacuum level (10-3 mbar), enable to match the ATHENA SPO acceptance requirements.
The realization of this facility at INAF-OAB in Merate (Italy) is now on going. Once completed, BEaTriX can be used to test the Silicon Pore Optics modules of the ATHENA X-ray observatory, as well as other optics, like the ones of the Arcus mission. In this paper we report the advancement status of the facility.
Cold and Hot Slumped Glass Optics with interfacing ribs for high angular resolution x-ray telescopes
In this paper we present the tests performed so far, giving a first assessment on the deterministic process definition. In particular, we report on the results achieved on flat samples of D263 and Eagle glass, focusing on the removal function characterization, the micro-roughness evolution and the plate shape variation.
Future high energy astrophysics missions will require high performance novel X-ray optics to explore the Universe beyond the limits of the currently operating Chandra and Newton observatories. Innovative optics technologies are therefore being developed and matured by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with research institutions and industry, enabling leading-edge future science missions.
Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) [1 to 21] and Slumped Glass Optics (SGO) [22 to 29] are lightweight high performance X-ray optics technologies being developed in Europe, driven by applications in observatory class high energy astrophysics missions, aiming at angular resolutions of 5” and providing effective areas of one or more square meters at a few keV.
This paper reports on the development activities led by ESA, and the status of the SPO and SGO technologies, including progress on high performance multilayer reflective coatings [30 to 35]. In addition, the progress with the X-ray test facilities and associated beam-lines is discussed [36].
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