Next Generation X-ray Optics

Next Generation X-ray Optics

Advances in X-ray astrophysics require continual improvements in X-ray telescopes. The objective of the Next Generation X-ray Optics team (NGXO) led by Dr. William Zhang is to develop X-ray mirror technology with ever higher resolution, lighter weight, and lower cost to enable NASA's future X-ray observatories, such as Lynx and AXIS that are currently under evaluation by the Decadal Survey.

The basic approach, utilizing knowledge gained and lessons learned from past X-ray missions, such as Einstein, ROSAT, Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR, is based on monocrystalline silicon material and precision fabrication technology, both of which have been developed and advanced by leaps and bounds in the past two decades. Their modular design and construction techniques make their technology amenable to making X-ray telescopes of all sizes, from small Explorer missions to flagship missions like Lynx. The following figure illustrates the four major steps in building an X-ray mirror assembly: