Fabrication and performance of Constellation-X hard x-ray telescope prototype optics using segmented glass
Abstract
We report on the fabrication and performance of prototype optics for the Constellation-X hard X-ray telescope (HXT). The prototypes utilize segmented-glass optics. Multiple glass segments are combined to produce telescope shells. The shells are separated by and epoxied to graphite rods, and each layer of rods is precisely machined to match the required optical geometry of the corresponding glass shell. This error-compensating, monolithic assembly and alignment (EMAAL) procedure is novel. Two prototypes are described. The first used 10cm long thermally-slumped glass pieces produced by slumping into a concave mandrel with no subsequent replication. This prototype obtained 45" (2-bounce HPD). The second prototype was the first attempt to mount epoxy-replicated, thermally-slumped glass optics using EMAAL. The latter prototype demonstrated our ability to produce and mount glass shells whose figure and performance are faithful representations of the original replication mandrel. The average performance was 45", with the best replicated segment providing 33" (2-bounce HPD) performance, consistent with the ~30" measured with laser reflectometry and interferometry prior to mounting. Both these prototypes substantially exceeded the HXT requirement of 60".
Additional Information
© 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). This work is supported by NASA grants to Columbia University: Thermally Formed Optics for X-ray and Gamma-ray Astronomy (NAG5-5260), High Energy Focusing Telescope (CalTech subaward 1019776) and Critical Technologies for the Constellation-X Hard X-ray Telescope (CalTech subaward 046806).Attached Files
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 88379
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20180731-114052007
- NASA
- NAG5-5260
- NASA
- 1019776
- NASA
- 046806
- Created
-
2018-07-31Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Space Radiation Laboratory
- Series Name
- Proceedings of SPIE
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 5168