Grazing incidence optics designs for future gamma-ray missions

Finn Erland Christensen; James M. Chakan; Fiona A. Harrison; Steven E. Boggs; Peter H. Mao; Thomas A. Prince; William W. Craig; Charles J. Hailey; David L. Windt

doi:10.1117/12.391563

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18 July 2000 Grazing incidence optics designs for future gamma-ray missions

Finn Erland Christensen, James M. Chakan, Fiona A. Harrison, Steven E. Boggs, Peter H. Mao, Thomas A. Prince, William W. Craig, Charles J. Hailey, David L. Windt

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Proceedings Volume 4012, X-Ray Optics, Instruments, and Missions III; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391563
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Sensitive nuclear line spectroscopy for observations of prompt emission from supernovae, as well as mapping of remnants has been a primary goal of gamma-ray astrophysics since its inception. A number of key lines lie in the energy band from 10 - 600 keV. In this region of the spectrum, observations have to-date been limited by high background and poor angular resolution. In this paper, we present several designs capable of extending the sensitivity of grazing incidence optics into this energy range. In particular, we discuss a 15 m focal length design for NASA's High-Sensitivity Spectroscopic Imaging Mission concept, as well as a 50 m focal length design which can extend ESA's XEUS mission into this band. We demonstrate that an unprecedented line sensitivity of 10^-7 cm^-2s^-1 can be achieved for the most important lines in this energy band.

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Finn Erland Christensen, James M. Chakan, Fiona A. Harrison, Steven E. Boggs, Peter H. Mao, Thomas A. Prince, William W. Craig, Charles J. Hailey, and David L. Windt "Grazing incidence optics designs for future gamma-ray missions", Proc. SPIE 4012, X-Ray Optics, Instruments, and Missions III, (18 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391563

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