@inproceedings{DoehringProbstStollenwerketal.2016, author = {D{\"o}hring, Thorsten and Probst, Anne-Catherine and Stollenwerk, Manfred and Wen, Mingwu and Proserpio, Laura}, title = {Development of low-stress Iridium coatings for astronomical x-ray mirrors}, series = {Proceedings of SPIE 9905, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray}, volume = {2016}, booktitle = {Proceedings of SPIE 9905, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray}, number = {9905}, editor = {den Herder, Jan-Willem A. and Takahashi, Tadayuki and Bautz, Marshall}, doi = {10.1117/12.2232074}, pages = {99056S-1 -- 99056S-7}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Previously used mirror technologies are not suitable for the challenging needs of future X-ray telescopes. This is why the required high precision mirror manufacturing triggers new technical developments around the world. Some aspects of X-ray mirrors production are studied within the interdisciplinary project INTRAAST, a German acronym for "industry transfer of astronomical mirror technologies". The project is embedded in a cooperation of Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Max-Planck-Institute for extraterrestrial Physics. One important task is the development of low-stress Iridium coatings for X-ray mirrors based on slumped thin glass substrates. The surface figure of the glass substrates is measured before and after the coating process by optical methods. Correlating the surface shape deformation to the parameters of coating deposition, here especially to the Argon sputtering pressure, allows for an optimization of the process. The sputtering parameters also have an influence on the coating layer density and on the micro-roughness of the coatings, influencing their X-ray reflection properties. Unfortunately the optimum coating process parameters seem to be contrarious: low Argon pressure resulted in better micro-roughness and higher density, whereas higher pressure leads to lower coating stress. Therefore additional measures like intermediate coating layers and temperature treatment will be considered for further optimization. The technical approach for the low-stress Iridium coating development, the experimental equipment, and the obtained first experimental results are presented within this paper.}, subject = {R{\"o}ntgenspiegel}, 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} } @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} }