NASA NTRS · 20140016875
Technology Requirements for a Square Meter, Arcsecond Resolution Telescope for X-Rays: The SMART-X Mission
Abstract
Addressing the astrophysical problems of the 2020's requires sub-arcsecond x-ray imaging with square meter effective area. Such requirements can be derived, for example, by considering deep x-ray surveys to find the young black holes in the early universe (large redshifts) which will grow into the first super-massive black holes. We have envisioned a mission, the Square Meter Arcsecond Resolution Telescope for X-rays (SMART-X), based on adjustable x-ray optics technology, incorporating mirrors with the required small ratio of mass to collecting area. We are pursuing technology which achieves sub-arcsecond resolution by on-orbit adjustment via thin film piezoelectric "cells" deposited directly on the non-reflecting sides of thin, slumped glass. While SMART-X will also incorporate state-of-the-art x-ray cameras, the remaining spacecraft systems have no requirements more stringent than those which are well understood and proven on the current Chandra X-ray Observatory.
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Schwartz, Daniel A., Allured, Ryan, Bookbinder, Jay A., Cotroneo, Vincenzo, Forman, William R., Freeman, Mark D., McMuldroch, Stuart, Reid, Paul B., Tananbaum, Harvey, Vikhlinin, Alexey A., Johnson-Wilke, Raegan L., Trolier-McKinstry, Susan E., Wilke, Rudeger H. T., Jackson, Thomas N., Ramirez, J. Israel, Gubarev, Mikhail V., Kolodziejczak, Jeffery J., ODell, Stephen L., Ramsey, Brian D.. 2014-08-19. Technology Requirements for a Square Meter, Arcsecond Resolution Telescope for X-Rays: The SMART-X Mission. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20140016875
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