@inproceedings{DoehringStollenwerkProserpioetal.2016, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Proserpio, Laura and Breunig, Elias and Friedrich, Peter}, title = {The challenging development of lightweight glass mirrors for future X-ray telescopes}, series = {DGaO Proceedings}, volume = {2016}, booktitle = {DGaO Proceedings}, publisher = {Deutsche Gesellschaft f{\"u}r angewandte Optik}, address = {Erlangen}, organization = {Hochschule Aschaffenburg}, issn = {1614-8436}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/nbn:de:0287-2016-B018-0}, pages = {2}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Previously used mirror technologies are not able to fulfill the challenging requirements of future X-ray telescopes. A promising new technology under development is the hot slumping of thin glasses. Challenges, design trades and first results are presented, including the thermal shaping process, the development of low stress coatings and the mirror segments integration concept.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ProbstDoehringStollenwerketal.2017, author = {Probst, Anne-Catherine and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Mingwu, Wen and Proserpio, Laura}, title = {Iridium coatings for space based x-ray optics}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE}, volume = {2017}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE}, number = {10562}, editor = {Cugny, Bruno and Karafolas, Nikos and Sodnik, Zoran}, doi = {10.1117/12.2296167}, pages = {105621E-01 -- 105621E-09}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Future investigations of astronomical X-ray sources require light weight telescope systems with large collecting areas and good angular resolution. The Wolter I type telescope design offers a suitable possibility for obtaining performant X-ray mirrors with high collecting areas. The technology based on replicated slumped glass optics using thin glasses thereby provides the opportunity to fulfil the light weight and mass production requirements. In NASA's telescope NuSTAR this technology has been proven as advantageous compared to previous systems. Coating thin glasses with iridium, gold or platinum enhances the reflectivity of X-ray mirrors.}, subject = {Iridium}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DoehringProbstStollenwerketal.2017, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Probst, Anne-Catherine and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Emmerich, Florian and Stehl{\´i}kov{\´a}, Veronika and Inneman, Adolf}, title = {Prototyping iridium coated mirrors for X-ray astronomy}, series = {Proceedings of the International Society for Optics and Photonics}, volume = {2017}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Society for Optics and Photonics}, number = {10235}, editor = {Hudec, Ren{\´e} and Pina, Ladislav}, publisher = {SPIE International Society for Optics and Photonics}, address = {Bellingham WA}, organization = {Hochschule Aschaffenburg}, doi = {10.1117/12.2265931}, pages = {1023504-1 -- 1023504-8}, year = {2017}, abstract = {X-ray astronomy uses space-based telescopes to overcome the disturbing absorption of the Earth´s atmosphere. The telescope mirrors are operating at grazing incidence angles and are coated with thin metal films of high-Z materials to get sufficient reflectivity for the high-energy radiation to be observed. In addition the optical payload needs to be light-weighted for launcher mass constrains. Within the project JEUMICO, an acronym for "Joint European Mirror Competence", the Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Czech Technical University in Prague started a collaboration to develop mirrors for X-ray telescopes. The X-ray telescopes currently developed within this Bavarian- Czech project are of Lobster eye type optical design. Corresponding mirror segments use substrates of flat silicon wafers which are coated with thin iridium films, as this material is promising high reflectivity in the X-ray range of interest. The deposition of the iridium films is based on a magnetron sputtering process. Sputtering with different parameters, especially by variation of the argon gas pressure, leads to iridium films with different properties. In addition to investigations of the uncoated mirror substrates the achieved surface roughness has been studied. Occasional delamination of the iridium films due to high stress levels is prevented by chromium sublayers. Thereby the sputtering parameters are optimized in the context of the expected reflectivity of the coated X-ray mirrors. In near future measurements of the assembled mirror modules optical performances are planned at an X-ray test facility.}, subject = {Iridium}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DoehringProbstEmmerichetal.2017, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Probst, Anne-Catherine and Emmerich, Florian and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Stehlikova, Veronika and Friedrich, Peter and Damm, Christine}, title = {Development of iridium coated X-ray mirrors for astronomical applications}, series = {Proceedings of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)}, volume = {2017}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)}, number = {10399}, publisher = {SPIE}, doi = {10.1117/12.2273988}, pages = {103991C-1 -- 103991C-8}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Future space-based X-ray observatories need to be very lightweight for launcher mass constraints. Therefore they will use a reduced mirror thickness, which results in the additional requirement of low coating stress to avoid deformation of the initial precisely shaped mirror substrates. Due to their excellent reflection properties iridium coatings are sometimes applied for grazing incidence mirrors in astronomical X-ray telescopes. At Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences the coating of thin iridium films by an RF-magnetron sputtering technique is under development. The work is embedded in collaborations with the Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera in Italy, the German Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research in Dresden, and the French Institute Fresnel. Sputtering with different parameters leads to iridium films with different properties. The current work is focused on the microstructure of the iridium coatings to study the influence of the substrate and of the argon gas pressure on the thin film growing process. Correlations between coating density, surface micro-roughness, the crystalline structure of the iridium layers, and the expected reflectivity of the X-ray mirror as well as coating stress effects are presented and discussed. The final goal of the project is to integrate the produced prototype mirrors into an X-ray telescope module. On a longer timescale measurements of the mirror modules optical performance are planned at the X-ray test facility PANTER.}, subject = {Iridium}, language = {en} } @article{ProbstStollenwerkEmmerichetal.2017, author = {Probst, Anne-Catherine and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Emmerich, Florian and B{\"u}ttner, Andre and Zeising, Sebastian and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Riethm{\"u}ller, Franziska and Stehlikova, Veronika and Mingwu, Wen and Proserpio, Laura and Damm, Christine and Rellinghaus, Bernd and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten}, title = {Influence of sputtering pressure on the nanostructure and the X-ray reflectivity of iridium coatings}, series = {Surface and Coatings Technology}, volume = {2017}, journal = {Surface and Coatings Technology}, number = {343}, issn = {0257-8972}, pages = {101 -- 107}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Reflective mirror coatings made of iridium are used in X-ray telescopes of the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) launched in 1999 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to investigate astronomical sources at photon energies below 10. keV. These coatings were produced in a DC magnetron sputtering process and have so far proven their suitability for space-based applications. We are considering in the present paper the processing of thin iridium films for lightweight telescopes using the radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique with an oblique angle deposition. The coating development presented here is focused on the influence of total sputtering pressure on film properties as well as on its impact on the mirror's performance. Characterisation methods such as X-ray diffractometry, X-ray reflectometry, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used. Correlations between morphology, density, surface micro-roughness, crystal structure of the iridium layer and the expected reflectivity of the X-ray mirror are described and discussed.}, subject = {Iridium}, language = {en} } @article{ProbstBegouDoehringetal.2018, author = {Probst, Anne-Catherine and Begou, Thomas and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Zeising, Sebastian and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Emmerich, Florian and Lumeau, Julien}, title = {Coating stress analysis and compensation for iridium-based x-ray mirrors}, series = {Applied Optics}, volume = {2018}, journal = {Applied Optics}, number = {57 (29)}, editor = {Publishing OSA,}, pages = {8775 -- 8779}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Iridium-based coatings for mirrors of x-ray telescopes are studied. In particular, stress-induced deformation is characterized and shown to be compressive and equal to -1786  MPa. Two methods for stress compensation are then studied. One relies on the deposition of silica on the back surface of the substrate and a second one relies on the deposition of a chromium sublayer. Advantages and drawbacks of each of these techniques are presented.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DoehringStadtmuellerStollenwerketal.2021, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Cotroneo, Vincenzo and Pareschi, Giovanni and Gibertini, Eugenio and Magagnin, Luca}, title = {Low-density coatings for enhanced X-ray reflectivity of astronomical telescope mirrors}, series = {DGaO Proceedings}, volume = {2021}, booktitle = {DGaO Proceedings}, number = {122}, publisher = {DGaO}, organization = {TH Aschaffenburg}, issn = {1614-8436}, pages = {1 -- 2}, year = {2021}, abstract = {High reflectivity grazing incidence mirrors of astronomical X-ray telescopes are usually coated with thin layers of iridium, gold, or platinum. Due to a series of absorption edges, these noble metals have low reflectivity in the 2 - 4 keV band. We present the development of innovative material combinations using chromium and an additional layer of polydopamine for enhanced reflectivity X-ray coatings.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @misc{DoehringStadtmuellerStollenwerketal.2021, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Cotroneo, Vincenzo and Pareschi, Giovanni and Gibertini, Eugenio and Magagnin, Luca}, title = {Low-density coatings for enhanced X-ray reflectivity of astronomical telescope mirrors}, series = {DGaO Jahrestagung}, volume = {2021}, journal = {DGaO Jahrestagung}, organization = {TH Aschaffenburg}, pages = {1 -- 1}, year = {2021}, abstract = {X-ray telescopes usually operate in space and are quite different from astronomical telescopes for visible light. For normal angles of incidence, optical light is reflected on the mirror surface, whereas X-rays are either transmitted or absorbed. However, also high reflectivity X-rays mirrors are possible, when the incident rays direction is almost parallel to the mirror surface. Such grazing incidence mirrors are usually coated with thin layers of precious metals like iridium, gold or platinum, as this result in high X-ray reflectivity. These noble metals offer a wide range of reflection up to high photon energies, but, due to a series of absorption edges, have low reflectivity in the 2 - 4 keV band and below. This contribution presents the development of innovative material combinations based on thin layers of iridium and chromium, followed by an additional layer of carbon-based materials. We also discuss corresponding production methods (like dip coating) for enhanced reflectivity mirror coatings of future X-ray telescopes.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenstrahlung}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{StehlikovaDoehringSchaeferetal.2019, author = {Stehlikova, Veronika and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Sch{\"a}fer, Tobias and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Friedrich, Peter and Burwitz, Vadim and Hartner, Gisela and Bradshaw, Miranda and Liao, Yingyu and Pelliciari, Carlo}, title = {X-ray reflectivity measurements at chromium-iridium tri-layer coatings}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE}, volume = {2019}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE}, number = {11119}, organization = {Max-Planck-Institut f{\"u}r Extraterrestrische Physik}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2530439}, pages = {111191L-1 -- 111191L-6}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Studying astronomical objects in the X-ray regime, iridium-based layer systems are highly effective reflective materials for telescopes mirrors. Aschaffenburg University and the Czech Technical University in Prague jointly developed stress compensated chromium-iridium coatings. To overcome the disturbing reflectivity reduction of the iridium absorption edge around 2 keV photon energy and improve general reflectivity at lower incident energies, thin overcoat layers of chromium have been applied in addition. Corresponding measurements at several X-ray lines have been performed on these samples at the PANTER test facility of the Max-Planck Institute for extraterrestrial Physics. A part of the experimental results and their comparison with theoretical simulations are presented in this contribution.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenastronomie}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RivoltaBassoCivitanietal.2022, author = {Rivolta, Giacomo and Basso, Stefano and Civitani, Marta Maria and Cotroneo, Vincenzo and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Michler, Willy-Leopold and Pareschi, Giovanni and Spiga, Daniele and Stollenwerk, Manfred}, title = {Upgrade of a laboratory X-ray diffractometer to extend its operating range towards soft energies}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE}, volume = {2022}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE}, number = {12181}, publisher = {SPIE}, organization = {Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera}, issn = {0277-786X}, doi = {doi: 10.1117/12.2629940}, pages = {121814S-1 -- 121814s-7}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The optical properties of X-ray mirror samples are commonly measured using diffractometers based on laboratory sources; like the Bede D1 diffractometer operating at INAF-OAB. This instrument can generate a collimated X-ray beam up to 60 keV, even though the most interesting energy region for x-ray astronomy applications is usually below 10 keV. In the softest part of this range (below 6 keV), high X-ray absorption in air hinders a full and precise characterization of optical components. In this work, we present an upgrade of the Bede D1 diffractometer that extends the operative range of the instrument below 6 keV; this is done by maximizing the flux at lowest energies and by reducing absorption by means of a helium-rich atmosphere. The upgraded instrument will be used for the tests of X-ray mirrors with innovative soft X-ray coatings, with potential application to the next generation X-ray telescopes (such as ATHENA and eXTP).}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenspiegel}, language = {en} }