@inproceedings{StehlikovaProserpioFriedrichetal.2017, author = {Stehlikova, Veronika and Proserpio, Laura and Friedrich, Peter and Madarasz, Emanuel and Breunig, Elias and Burwitz, Vadim and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Probst, Anne-Catherine}, title = {Indirect glass slumping of grazing incidence mirror segments for lightweight x-ray telescopes}, 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}, organization = {Max-Planck Institut f{\"u}r extraterrestrische Physik}, doi = {10.1117/12.2272671}, pages = {103991Z-1 -- 103991Z-7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The paper provides a description of recent progress in the development of lightweight, precision and highthroughput grazing-incidence mirrors for X-ray astronomy made of glass. In particular, the indirect slumping technology under investigation at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) is reviewed and recent activities are presented together with the research approach. The glass slumping technique foresees several steps: a thermal forming process using a suitable mould; a re ective layer application; the alignment and integration of mirror segments into a supporting structure; and the � nal veri� cation of prototype modules using X-rays. Each step is considered at MPE, with the involvement of partner institutes and universities. The last year of activities was mainly dedicated to the procurement of new moulds and to the application of Iridium coating. The main results will be presented.}, subject = {Iridium}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DoehringStieglitzHudecetal.2022, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stieglitz, Veronika and Hudec, Rene and Sapsai, Iryna and Friedrich, Peter and Burwitz, Vadim}, title = {Characterization of a lobster-eye type X-ray telescope}, series = {EOSAM-Conference}, volume = {2022}, booktitle = {EOSAM-Conference}, organization = {TH Aschaffenburg}, pages = {1 -- 1}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Lobster-eye type X-ray telescopes use reflecting plano mirrors under grazing incidence and can observe a large field of view. As part of a Bavarian-Czech cooperation, two telescopes were build, equipped with mirrors coated with gold and iridium. Their X-ray characterization was carried out at the PANTER test facility, which simulates parallel starlight incident on the telescopes. The telescopes have an angular resolution of about 4 arc minutes in X-rays and a focal length of about 2 meters. The used X-ray mirrors reflect and focus visible light as well; their functionality in the optical regime was checked in laboratory tests. Now another test campaign will be carried out to examine the telescope resolution for real objects of the visible night sky and the imaging properties for star constellations.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, 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{PareschiCivitaniSironietal.2019, author = {Pareschi, Giovanni and Civitani, Marta Maria and Sironi, Giorgia and Yang, Yang and Cotroneo, Vincenzo and Valsecchi, Giuseppe and Magagnin, Luca and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Bradshaw, Miranda and Burwitz, Vadim and Pelliciari, Carlo}, title = {Reflectivity-enhancement at low x-ray energies in astronomical telescopes using low-density overcoatings: alternative materials and deposition methods}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE}, volume = {2019}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE}, number = {11119}, publisher = {SPIE}, organization = {Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2532392}, pages = {11119OS-1 -- 11119OS-13}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Low density overcoatings (mainly based on materials containing Carbon) onto usual high-density coatings (based i.e. on materials like e.g. like Ir, Au or Pt) have been proposed since many years ago in order to enhance the X- ray reflectivity at low energy (between 0.5 and 4 keV) of X-ray astronomical optics. The trick is to make use of the total reflection from the thin low-density material (which does not suffer much the photoelectric absorption) at low X-ray energies; the reflection of photons at higher energies (< 4 keV) occurs thanks to the much denser material under the overcoating. For several future projects, like e.g. ATHENA, LYNX and eXTP, it is foreseen the use of low-density overcoatings that will importantly increase the effective area at low X-ray energies. In this paper we will introduce the use of overcoatings based on materials different from the usual ones considered so far like C, B4C and SiC. In particular, we will discuss about a novel approach based on the use of thin layer of a Carbon-like materials deposited using a dip coating method. A possible combination with an intermediate thin layer of Chromium deposited e.g. via sputtering onto the usual high density material (Ir, Au or Pt) before the application of the Carbon-like material is also considered in the study, because it can further greatly enhance the soft X-ray effective area of future X-ray telescopes.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @misc{GiovanniDoehringValsecchietal.2019, author = {Giovanni, Pareschi and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Valsecchi, Guiseppe and Magagnin, Luca and Bradshaw, Miranda and Burwitz, Vadim and Civitani, Marta Maria and Cotroneo, Vincenzo and Gibertini, Eugenio and Pelliciari, Carlo and Sironi, Giorgia and Yang, Yang}, title = {Enhancing the ATHENA effective area at low x-ray energies with unconventional overcoatings}, series = {Proceedings of the X-RAY ASTRONOMY 2019 conference}, volume = {2019}, journal = {Proceedings of the X-RAY ASTRONOMY 2019 conference}, organization = {Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica}, pages = {1 -- 1}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Low density overcoatings (mainly based on materials containing Carbon) onto usual hi Z materials (like Ir, Au or Pt) have been proposed more than 10 years ago for enhancing the X-ray reflectivity at low energy (between 0.5 and 4 keV) in X-ray astronomical optics. The hack is to use the total reflection from the low density material (which do not suffer much the photoelectric absorption) at low energy, while the photons at high energy are reflected by the high density material. Now for several future projects like e.g. ATHENA and eXTP it is foreseen the use of low density overcoatings that will importantly increase the effective area at low energy. In this poster we will discuss about the use of materials different from the ones considered so far, in particular based on a thin layer of Chromium followed by another layer of a Carbon-like material, and of novel approaches for their application.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DoehringStieglitzFriedrichetal.2023, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stieglitz, Veronika and Friedrich, Peter and Burwitz, Vadim and Jelinek, Martin and Hudec, Rene}, title = {Testing of lobster-eye type telescopes with X-rays and visible light}, series = {SPIE Proceedings}, volume = {2023}, booktitle = {SPIE Proceedings}, number = {12576}, publisher = {SPIE}, organization = {TH Aschaffenburg}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2665429}, pages = {1257606-1 -- 1257606-5}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Reflective coatings for astronomical X-ray optics were developed at the "Aschaffenburg Competence Center for Astronomical and Space Instrumentation" (ACCASI) since several years. As part of a Bavarian-Czech cooperation between the Technical University of Aschaffenburg and the Czech Technical University of Prague, now two mechanically identical telescopes were built. One telescope optic was equipped with conventional gold-coated mirrors, manufactured by the Czech project partners. The 34 X-ray mirrors of the second telescope use an innovative coating system made of chromium and iridium, which was applied at the Aschaffenburg coating laboratory. Both telescopes are designed according to the bionic principle of a reflecting lobster eye. The optics works with two consecutive reflections on mutually perpendicular mirror surfaces. This enables a large field of view with many square degrees in diameter, which, however, comes at the price of a reduced angular resolution. An extensive X-ray characterization of these telescopes was carried out at the PANTER test facility of MPE, which simulates parallel starlight incident on the telescopes. The telescopes have an angular resolution of about 4 arc minutes in X-rays and a focal length of about 2 meters. Furthermore, the used X-ray mirrors reflect and focus visible light as well and this functionality in the optical regime was checked in laboratory tests. Now another test campaign was done to examine the telescope resolution for real objects of the visible sky and the imaging properties for star constellations. Such functional tests by observing astronomical objects of the visible sky may simplify and accelerate the development of X-ray telescopes for satellite applications.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} } @article{StieglitzBurwitzDoehringetal.2022, author = {Stieglitz, Veronika and Burwitz, Vadim and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Hudec, Rene and Vitek, Stanislav}, title = {Design and testing of a Kirkpatrick-Baez optics variation}, series = {EPJ Web of Conferences}, volume = {266 (2022)}, journal = {EPJ Web of Conferences}, doi = {10.1051/epjconf/202226603021}, pages = {1 -- 2}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Beside Wolter I X-ray optics, which are used at most in currently operating X-ray space telescopes, there exist also other optical designs and their usability for space observations is still the matter of studies. This article covers preliminary testing results of an optical module which is based on a modified Kirkpatrick-Baez optics. This X-ray optics, consisting of four sub-modules, was assembled in Prague and tested at the PANTER test facility of MPE afterward. The sub-modules use different reflective coatings, in part developed by our research group, on complementary flat mirrors, which approximate the shape of a Kirkpatrick-Baez optical design. In this contribution we summarise the design of the optical modules, the details of applied coating layers, and the X-ray characterisation results at the PANTER test facility}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenoptik}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HudecStieglitzDoehringetal.2025, author = {Hudec, Rene and Stieglitz, Veronika and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Friedrich, Peter and Burwitz, Vadim}, title = {Novel X-ray optics developed within the AHEAD2020 project}, publisher = {DGaO}, organization = {TH Aschaffenburg}, pages = {1 -- 1}, year = {2025}, abstract = {We present a summary of our contribution to the EU Horizon 2020 project AHEAD2020, with emphasis on the X-ray optics work package. The Czech Technical University - together with other collaborating institutes - studied innovative Lobster Eye (LE) and Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) X-ray modules, based on the Multi Foil Optics technology (MFO). In addition, two major events were organized, namely a students workshop in December 2023 and a summer school in May 2024. The KB optics represents a promising and cost effective alternative to the currently used Wolter I telescopes. The LE X-ray optics, based on the Schmidt design, has a wide field of view (FOV) with a short focal length, making it suitable for CubeSat application. Thereby the 2D LE optics consist of two orthogonal sub-modules of flat smooth reflecting foils, each sub-modules focuses in one direction. The advantage of such optics is that it preserves the angular resolution throughout the FOV even for off-axis points, as demonstrated by simulations and measurements. There was a collaboration with Aschaffenburg University in design, development, and testing of the double LE module HORUS, comparing different reflecting coatings.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenoptik}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HudecStieglitzDoehringetal.2025, author = {Hudec, Rene and Stieglitz, Veronika and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Friedrich, Peter and Burwitz, Vadim}, title = {Novel X-ray optics developed within the AHEAD2020 project}, series = {DGaO-Proceedings}, volume = {2025}, booktitle = {DGaO-Proceedings}, number = {126}, publisher = {DGaO}, organization = {Czech Technical University in Prague}, issn = {1614-8436}, pages = {1 -- 2}, year = {2025}, abstract = {We present a summary of our contribution to the EU Horizon 2020 project AHEAD2020, with emphasis on the X-ray optics work package. The Czech Technical University - together with other collaborating institutes - studied innovative Lobster Eye and Kirkpatrick-Baez X-ray modules, based on the Multi Foil Optics technology. In addition, a student's workshop in December 2023 and a summer school in May 2024 were organized within the project.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenoptik}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{StehlikovaDoehringStollenwerketal.2021, author = {Stehlikova, Veronika and D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Stadtm{\"u}ller, Johannes and Marsikova, Veronika and Hudec, Rene and Flachs, Dennis and Burwitz, Vadim and Hartner, Gisela and Rukdee, Surangkhana and M{\"u}ller, Thomas and Schmidt, Thomas and Inneman, Adolf and Klementova, Mariana and Zeising, Sebastian and Langmeier, Andreas}, title = {Lobster eye type X-ray telescope with chromium-iridium coated tri-layer mirrors}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE}, volume = {2021}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE}, number = {11776}, publisher = {SPIE}, organization = {Czech Technical University in Prague}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589266}, pages = {1177605-1 -- 1177605-8}, year = {2021}, abstract = {For space-born astronomical X-ray telescopes, iridium-based reflective layer systems are known as highly effective mirrors coatings. During the recent years, Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Czech Technical University in Prague jointly developed stress compensated chromium-iridium coatings for this application. To overcome the disturbing reflectivity reduction of the iridium absorption edge around 2 keV photon energy, thin overcoat layers of chromium were applied in addition. Now a prototype of a wide-field, imaging X-ray telescope of Lobster Eye type is assembled at the company RIGAKU. For this purpose a small series of 34 mirrors based on 100 x 50 mm semiconductor grade silicon substrates has been coated at Aschaffenburg University. The applied tri-layer system consists of a stack of 40 nm chromium, which act as adhesive layer and compensates layer stress, a 30 nm iridium thick reflective layer, and an additional overcoat layer of 6 nm chromium. This layer system have been analysed by AFM and TEM images. The mirrors are assembled into an aluminium frame to build a 2D Lobster Eye type telescope. The designed focal length of this wide field X-ray telescope is two meter. To study the performance of the tri-layer coating system, a twin LE telescope with convenient gold coatings was manufactured also. Performance measurements of both telescopes and under same conditions are planned at the PANTER test facility at the Max-Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics. First experimental results, their comparison with theoretical simulations and the comparison between both models will be presented in this contribution.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenteleskop}, language = {en} }