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Design and modeling of an additive manufactured thin shell for X-ray astronomy

Feldman, C; Atkins, C; Brooks, D; Watson, S; Cochrane, W; Roulet, M; Willingale, R; (2017) Design and modeling of an additive manufactured thin shell for X-ray astronomy. In: O'Dell, SL and Pareschi, G, (eds.) Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy VIII. (pp. 103991H1-103991H9). SPIE Green open access

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Abstract

Future X-ray astronomy missions require light-weight thin shells to provide large collecting areas within the weight limits of launch vehicles, whilst still delivering angular resolutions close to that of Chandra (0.5 arc seconds). Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a well-established technology with the ability to construct or print' intricate support structures, which can be both integral and light-weight, and is therefore a candidate technique for producing shells for space-based X-ray telescopes. The work described here is a feasibility study into this technology for precision X-ray optics for astronomy and has been sponsored by the UK Space Agency's National Space Technology Programme. The goal of the project is to use a series of test samples to trial different materials and processes with the aim of developing a viable path for the production of an X-ray reflecting prototype for astronomical applications. The initial design of an AM prototype X-ray shell is presented with ray-trace modelling and analysis of the X-ray performance. The polishing process may cause print-through from the light-weight support structure on to the reflecting surface. Investigations in to the effect of the print-through on the X-ray performance of the shell are also presented.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: Design and modeling of an additive manufactured thin shell for X-ray astronomy
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering and Applications, 6-10 August 2017, San Diego, California, United States
ISBN-13: 9781510612556
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1117/12.2273422
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2273422
Language: English
Additional information: This is the published version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10038422
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