Next generation astronomical x-ray optics: high angular resolution, light weight, and low production cost

X-ray astronomydepends upon the availability of telescopeswith high resolution and large photon colleX- rayastronomy depends upon the availability of telescopeswith high resolution and large photon collecting areas. As astronomical x-rayobservations can only be carried out above the atmosphere, these telescopesmust necessarily be lightweight. Compounding the lightweight requirement is that an x-ray telescopeconsists of many nested concentric shells, which further requires that x-raymirrors must be geometrically thin to achieve high packing efficiency. This double requirement—lightweight and geometrically thin—poses significant technical challenges in fabricating the mirrors and in integrating them into mirror assemblies. This paper reports on the approach, strategy, and status of our program to develop x-ray opticsmeeting these technical challenges at modest cost. The objective of this technology program is to enable future x-raymissions—including small Explorer missions in the near term, probe class missions in the medium term, and large flagship missions in the long term.ing areas. As astronomical x-rayobservations can only be carried out above the atmosphere, these telescopesmust necessarily be lightweight. Compounding the lightweight requirement is that an x-ray telescopeconsists of many nested concentric shells, which further requires that x-raymirrors must be geometrically thin to achieve high packing efficiency. This double requirement—lightweight and geometrically thin—poses significant technical challenges in fabricating the mirrors and in integrating them into mirror assemblies. This paper reports on the approach, strategy, and status of our program to develop x-ray opticsmeeting these technical challenges at modest cost. The objective of this technology program is to enable future x-raymissions—including small Explorer missions in the near term, probe class missions in the medium term, and large flagship missions in the long term.