This report begins with a review of the basic concept of deformable X-ray optics, and the need for this approach for future X-ray astronomy missions that have ~1” resolution. We then report on our advances made on using magnetic smart materials (MSMs) to adjust the shape of thin (~100-200 µm thickness) electroformed replicated optics or glass optics. We show that we can well model deflections in 5 mm x 20 mm glass pieces and we provide preliminary evidence that the concept will work that involves imposing a magnetic field on the hard magnetic substrate (NiCo) to maintain the change in mirror shape.

Date Published: 5 September 2014
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 9208, Adaptive X-Ray Optics III, 920808 (5 September 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2062008

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9208:
Adaptive X-Ray Optics III
Stephen L. O'Dell; Ali M. Khounsary, Editor(s)