HEAD 2000, November 2000
Session 47. Missions and Instruments
Oral, Friday, November 10, 2000, 1:40-2:30pm, Pago Pago Ballroom

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[47.05] Theoretical Modeling of an Astronomical X-Ray Interferometer

J. Gaskin (UAH), M. Joy (NASA/MSFC)

A space-based x-ray interferometer has the potential to achieve angular resolution many orders of magnitude better than current x-ray telescopes. The viability of this concept has recently been established by measurements made with a grazing incidence x-ray interferometer in a long-beam test facility. We report on theoretical modeling of a grazing incidence interferometer, which will allow us to specify the tolerances required to construct improved laboratory and space-based instruments. We consider an x-ray interferometer consisting of four 50 mm diameter flat optics located 100 m in front of a CCD detector, illuminated by 1.25 keV x-rays. The required tolerances on the spatial location and angular tilt of the optics are calculated, as well as the effect of mirror surface imperfections on the x-ray fringe pattern.


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