Silicon pore optics spectrograph architecture for future explorer-class soft x-ray missions

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, pp. 275

Abstract

Future soft X-ray astronomy missions require compact, lightweight spectrographs capable of high spectral resolution within mass and volume limits of explorer-class spacecraft. Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) developed by cosine and ESA have emerged as a leading technology for X-ray telescopes for their low mass, high stiffness, and modular fabrication. This work investigates an SPO-based spectrograph concept where primary focusing optics and diffraction elements are made using SPO manufacturing techniques. By engineer-matching focal length, pore geometry, and alignment tolerances between mirror and grating, a system can be optimized as a unified instrument rather than a combination of independent components. The design will be evaluated with ray-tracing simulations to assess resolving power, throughput, and sensitivity to alignment errors. This approach aims to pioneer the SPO mirror + SPO grating architecture as a path toward future spectroscopy-dedicated missions in X-ray astronomy.

Authors 5

1. Tristen M. Sextro

   Pennsylvania State University

   Affiliation as printed

   The Pennsylvania State Univ. (United States)

2. Randall L. McEntaffer

   Pennsylvania State University

   Affiliation as printed

   The Pennsylvania State Univ. (United States)

3. Nicolas M. Barrière Aachen Cosine measurement systems

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

4. Ramses Günther Aachen Cosine measurement systems

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)

5. David A. Girou Aachen Cosine measurement systems

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine measurement systems (Netherlands)