Publication Date:
2019-07-13
Description:
Addressing the astrophysical problems of the 2020's requires sub-arcsecond x-ray imaging with square meter effective area. Such requirements can be derived, for example, by considering deep x-ray surveys to find the young black holes in the early universe (large redshifts) which will grow into the first super-massive black holes. We have envisioned a mission, the Square Meter Arcsecond Resolution Telescope for X-rays (SMART-X), based on adjustable x-ray optics technology, incorporating mirrors with the required small ratio of mass to collecting area. We are pursuing technology which achieves sub-arcsecond resolution by on-orbit adjustment via thin film piezoelectric "cells" deposited directly on the non-reflecting sides of thin, slumped glass. While SMART-X will also incorporate state-of-the-art x-ray cameras, the remaining spacecraft systems have no requirements more stringent than those which are well understood and proven on the current Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Keywords:
Astrophysics; Optics
Type:
M15-4160
,
Adaptive X-Ray Optics III; Aug 19, 2014 - Aug 21, 2014; San Diego, CA; United States|SPIE Optics & Photonics 2014 Conference; Aug 19, 2014 - Aug 21, 2014; San Diego, CA; United States
Format:
application/pdf