Optics developments for NewATHENA

Le résumé fourni par la source

With the endorsement of the NewAthena (New Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) mission by ESA’s Science Programme Committee in November 2023, the preparations for this next generation X-ray observatory have shifted to a higher gear. Competitive system studies and technology preparation activities are being implemented, aiming to demonstrate readiness for the mission adoption early 2027 and the subsequent mission implementation. The Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) enables the NewAthena mission, delivering an unprecedented combination of good angular resolution, large effective area and low mass. The SPO technology builds significantly on spin-in from the semiconductor industry and is designed to allow a cost-effective flight optics implementation, compliant with the programmatic requirements of the mission. The NewAthena X-ray optics is highly modular, consisting of hundreds of compact mirror modules arranged in concentric circles and mounted on a metallic optical bench. All aspects of the optics are being developed in parallel, from the industrial production of the mirror plates, over the highly efficient assembly into mirror modules, to the alignment of the mirror modules and their fixation on the optical bench. Dedicated facilities are being built to measure the performance of the NewAthena X-ray telescope optics, demonstrating their compatibility with the environmental and scientific requirements. An overview is provided of the activities preparing the implementation of the NewATHENA optics.

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