NuSTAR hard x-ray optics
Abstract
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is a small explorer (SMEX) mission currently under an extended Phase A study by NASA. NuSTAR will be the first satellite mission to employ focusing optics in the hard X-ray band (8-80 keV). Its design eliminates high detector backgrounds, allows true imaging, and permits the use of compact high performance detectors. The result: a combination of clarity, sensitivity, and spectral resolution surpassing the largest observatories that have operated in this band by orders of magnitude. We present an overview of the NuSTAR optics design and production process. We also describe the progress of several components of our independent optics development program that are beginning to reach maturity and could possibly be incorporated into the NuSTAR production scheme. We then present environmental test results that are being conducted in preparation of full space qualification of the NuSTAR optics.
Additional Information
© 2005 SPIE. This work is supported by a NASA grant to Columbia University: NAG5-5260 (Thermally Formed Optics for X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Astronomy), and by NASA grants to the California Institute of Technology with sub-awards to Columbia: Caltech No. 1019776 (High Energy Focusing Telescope) and Caltech No. 1046806 (Critical Technologies for the Constellation Hard X-Ray Telescope).Attached Files
Published - 59000X.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 84201
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20180109-151648556
- NASA
- NAG5-5260
- NASA
- 1019776
- NASA
- 1046806
- Created
-
2018-01-09Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-15Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- NuSTAR, Space Radiation Laboratory
- Series Name
- Proceedings of SPIE
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 5900