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Optical & Space Systems > Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
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At the heart of the Chandra X-ray Observatory is a nest of four
concentric, cylindrical nesting mirrors manufactured by Goodrich.
These optics are the largest and most precise set of incidence
grazing optics ever built. The mirrors are nearly perfectly
cylindrical in shape, with a slight cone angle so that X-rays
graze off their inside surface, somewhat like a stone skipping
across a pond. To illustrate the precision achieved, if a
Goodrich Chandra Optic was unrolled and scaled to the size of the
United States, the tallest mountain would be less than two inches
at its peak!
The most sophisticated X-ray observatory ever made, Chandra
yields images of X-ray sources 25 times sharper than anything
produced in the past. Chandra provides unique and crucial
information on objects ranging from stars in our solar system to
quasars at the edge of the observable Universe. The startling and
fascinating images that Chandra sends back to earth on a regular
basis as well as comprehensive testing pre-launch has revealed
that all eight mirror elements have exceeded expectations and
surpassed all performance requirements.
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- Four Nested, Cylindrically-Shaped Grazing Incidence
Mirrors Pairs -
Far Exceeded Performance Requirements
- Optics have an Equivalent Area of About 18 m²
- Typical Results:
- Surface Figure ~ λ/150 RMS; &lambda=0.633 microns
- Surface Roughness < 3 Angstroms, RMS
- Excellent Convergence Rates:
- First ~60% (comparable to best reported in literature)
- Average ~77%
- Best ~84%
For more information, please visit the
Chandra X-ray Observatory web site.
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