The Athena optics

The Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics (Athena) was selected in 2014 as the second large class mission (L2) of the ESA Cosmic Vision Science Programme within the Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration. The mission development is proceeding via the implementation of the system studies and in parallel a comprehensive series of technology preparation activities. [1-3]. The core enabling technology for the high performance mirror is the Silicon Pore Optics (SPO), a modular X-ray optics technology, which utilises processes and equipment developed for the semiconductor industry [4-31]. This paper provides an overview of the programmatic background, the status of SPO technology and give an outline of the development roadmap and activities undertaken and planned by ESA.

[1]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Making the ATHENA optics using silicon pore optics , 2014, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation.

[2]  M. Bavdaz,et al.  Production of silicon pore optics , 2006, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[3]  M. Bavdaz,et al.  Development of modular high-performance pore optics for the XEUS x-ray telescope , 2005, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[4]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Design, fabrication, and characterization of silicon pore optics for ATHENA/IXO , 2011, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[5]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Progress at ESA on high-energy optics technologies , 2004, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[6]  Maximilien Collon,et al.  Stray light baffling and environmental qualification of silicon pore optics , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.

[7]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Silicon pore optics development , 2009, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[8]  Maximilien Collon,et al.  Preparing the optics technology to observe the hot universe , 2014, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation.

[9]  Kirpal Nandra.  ATHENA: The Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics , 2011 .

[10]  G. Pareschi,et al.  Science requirements and optimization of the silicon pore optics design for the Athena mirror , 2014, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation.

[11]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Aberration-free silicon pore x-ray optics , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.

[12]  Jeroen Haneveld,et al.  Silicon pore optics for astrophysical missions , 2011, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[13]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  ATHENA: system design and implementation for a next-generation x-ray telescope , 2017, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[14]  Marco Beijersbergen,et al.  Silicon pore optics: novel lightweight high-resolution x-ray optics developed for XEUS , 2004, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[15]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Optical bench elements (petals) for IXO , 2009, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[16]  M. Bavdaz,et al.  Performance characterization of silicon pore optics , 2006, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[17]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Stacking of silicon pore optics for IXO , 2009, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[18]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Performance prediction and measurement of silicon pore optics , 2009, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[19]  M. Bavdaz,et al.  Metrology, integration, and performance verification of silicon pore optics in Wolter-I configuration , 2006, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[20]  Space systems — Definition of the Technology Readiness Levels ( TRLs ) and their criteria of assessment , 2022 .

[21]  Marco Beijersbergen,et al.  Novel applications of silicon pore optics technology , 2012, Other Conferences.

[22]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  In focus measurements of IXO type optics using the new PANTER x-ray test facility extension , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.

[23]  Stefan Kraft,et al.  Potential of the PANTER x-ray test facility for calibration of instrumentation for XEUS , 2006, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[24]  Stefan Kraft,et al.  Assembling silicon pore optics into a modular structure , 2006, SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[25]  Maximilien Collon,et al.  Silicon pore optics developments and status , 2012, Other Conferences.

[26]  Marco Beijersbergen,et al.  Development of x-ray pore optics: novel high-resolution silicon millipore optics for XEUS and ultralow mass glass micropore optics for imaging and timing , 2004, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[27]  Maximilien Collon,et al.  ESA-led ATHENA/IXO optics development status , 2011, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[28]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  Mass production of silicon pore optics for IXO and ATHENA , 2011, Optical Engineering + Applications.

[29]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  ESA optics technology preparation for IXO , 2010, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[30]  Niels J. Westergaard,et al.  Coating optimization for the ATHENA+ mission , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.

[31]  Marcos Bavdaz,et al.  X-ray pencil beam facility for optics characterization , 2010, Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.

[32]  Maximilien Collon,et al.  Qualification of silicon pore optics , 2014, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation.

[33]  Daniele Gallieni,et al.  X-ray optics developments at ESA , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.