IXO-Like X-ray Telescope [Draft - 07/25/11]
Name of Technology (256 char) Thermal formed (slumped) glass mirror segments Large-scale alignment and mounting of thin Gratings for dispersive x-ray spectrometer Large area x-ray calorimeter
glass mirror segments
Brief description of the technology Thermally form, to precision mandrels, thin glass Thousands of mirror segments need to be High ruling density off-plane (OP) reflective X-ray calorimeter for high resolving power
(1024) sheets into Wolter I mirror segments. Includes aligned to one another, made confocal, and and critical angle transmission (CAT) x-ray non-dispersive spectroscopy coupled with
cutting mirrors to appropriate size, and coating mounted in a flight housing. Mounting must gratings for dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. moderate angular resolution imaging.
with x-ray reflective material. not distort the mirror figure. Includes development of calorimeter pixel
multiplexing, refrigeration, energy resolution,
and field size (total number of pixels).
Goals and Objectives (1024) Requirement for perfectly aligned primary- Alignement requirement for multiple Development of gratings with resolving power Develop large format (~ 100 to 1000 sq. mm
segments and multiple shells is ~ 1.5 to 3
secondary mirror pair are 3.3-6.6 arc-sec HPD for lambda/delta-lambda > 3000 over area) detector with to exceed 1 sq m with existing launch spectrum over the 0.1 to 1 keV bandwidth. with higher rate capability than CCDs, and still
10x area of Chandra and better resolution than vehicles. > 10x area of Chandra and better provide imaging capabillities matched to
XMM. This enables study of early Universe, BH resolution than XMM. This enables study of telescope performance.
dynamics and GR, and WHIM. early Universe, BH dynamics and GR, and
WHIM.
NASA needs/Ranking Required for moderate to large collecting area x- Required for moderate to large collecting Required for spectroscopy of WHIM. 10x Required for high spectral resolution
ray telescopes. area x-ray telescopes. resolving power of Chandra gratings. observations over large bandwidth.
Necessary for studying BH dynamics and
merger history, GR, NS EOS.
Non-NASA but aerospace needs NONE NONE NONE Large formats also required for infrared and
submillimeter observations.
Non aerospace needs May have applications with X-ray
microscopes for medical research
Technical Risk Low - current performance within ~ 30 per cent of Moderate - alignment requirements met but Moderate - improvements in efficiency Low -
requirements mounting deformation ~ 5 times too high. required to produce useful technology
Major development still required.
Sequencing/Timing As early as possible - "heart" of a telescope As early as possible - "heart" of a telescope Early in mission development as could drive Early in mission development as could drive
spacecraft design, including focal plane spacecraft design, including focal plane
design design
Time and Effort to achieve goal 3 year collaboration between NASA and industry 5 year collaboration between NASA and 3 - 5 year NASA funded development. 3 - 5 year NASA funded development.
industry Choose instrument development teams by Choose instrument development teams by
AO AO