High Resolution X-Ray Astronomy in the Far Future
Abstract
Perhaps the best resolution that grazing incidence optics can achieve is 100 marcsec. Further improvement may be obtainable with a technology based on diffractive-refractive transmitting optics. The telescope would be light weight and inexpensive. However, the focal length is ~1000 km so mission operations are challenging. The optics and detector are aboard separate S/C. Aligning the two S/C and changing targets require propulsion engines. A low thrust engine, ~50 microN can neutralize gravity gradients to maintain the telescope-detector alignment. A higher thrust engine, ~50 miliN is needed to change targets within a time of 100,000 seconds. The large focal plane scale limits the field of view in practice to less than an arc second.
- Publication:
-
15 Years of Science with Chandra
- Pub Date:
- November 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014fysc.confP..23G