Silicon Pore Optics mirror modules for ATHENA telescope

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cosine is developing and producing the mirror modules for Athena (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics), the X-ray observatory mission selected by ESA, within its Cosmic Vision program, to address the Hot and Energetic Universe scientific theme. Athena will be the largest X-ray telescope ever flown and consists of a single large-aperture 2.4 m diameter, grazing-incidence X-ray telescope with 1.5 m² of effective area at 1 keV, utilizing cosine’s novel Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) technology, with 12 m focal length and 5 arc sec HEW on-axis angular resolution.

Learn more about the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU), the scientific instrument which will be placed at the focal point of the Athena telescope, in order to observe galaxies, black holes and exploding stars.

Image credits: cosine and ESA

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Client: ESA Science & Technology
Mission: Athena
Year launch: 2031
TRL: 5
Mass: 0.4 kg, effective collecting area 12 cm² @ 1 keV
Imaging resolution: 5 arcsec HEW
Focal length: 12 m
Effective area: 1.5 m² through combining 600 SPO modules
Coating: Cr+Ir
Option:

  • Multilayers or low-Z overcoating to boost the response up to 69 keV
  • Custom development for different focal length and imaging resolution

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