Diffraction-limited astronomical x-ray imaging and x-ray interferometry using normal-incidence multilayer optics

David L. Windt; Steven M. Kahn; Gary E. Sommargren

doi:10.1117/12.461288

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11 March 2003 Diffraction-limited astronomical X-ray imaging and X-ray interferometry using normal-incidence multilayer optics

David L. Windt, Steven M. Kahn, Gary E. Sommargren

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Proceedings Volume 4851, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes and Instruments for Astronomy; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461288
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

We describe a new technical approach for observations of Galactic and extra-Galactic soft X-ray sources with ultra-high angular resolution. The technique is based on the use of recently developed diffraction-limited, normal-incidence mirror substrates and ultra-short-period multilayer coatings, tuned to specific bright emission lines in the range 16 < l < 40 Å, for the construction of a diffraction-limited X-ray telescope. Sub-milliarcsecond resolution could be achieved in a moderately-sized Cassegrain or prime-focus geometry, while resolution of order 0.01 microarcseconds could be achieved using a synthetic aperture X-ray interferometer constructed from an array of such telescopes spread over a 50 km baseline. We describe our technical approach in detail and outline some of the observations that would become possible with the proposed instrumentation.

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David L. Windt, Steven M. Kahn, and Gary E. Sommargren "Diffraction-limited astronomical X-ray imaging and X-ray interferometry using normal-incidence multilayer optics", Proc. SPIE 4851, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Telescopes and Instruments for Astronomy, (11 March 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461288

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