TY - CHAP A1 - Hudec, Rene A1 - Döhring, Thorsten T1 - Astrophysical and scientific payloads for CubeSats T2 - 18th Pico- and Nanosatellite Workshop 2025, Abstracts Book N2 - For scientific and commercial applications, CubeSats enable cost-effective missions and significantly reduce the time between mission concept and launch compared to classical large satellites. Since 2000, there has been an accelerating increase in CubeSat launches, which in turn is expected to drive up the demand for dedicated optical instruments, especially in commercially relevant areas like high-resolution optics for earth observation. We present some studies and ideas of application of CubeSats mainly in the field of astronomy and astrophysics elaborated and studied at the Czech Technical University in Prague in collaboration with Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences. These includes single CubeSats as well as tandem CubeSat constellations. These miniature satellites can carry miniature scientific payloads for high-energy observations of both astrophysical objects as well as targets in high earth atmosphere. The examples include miniature X-ray and UV telescopes monitors and cameras, but also optical and NIR payloads. Due to the recent progress in satellite control engineering, tandem flight arrangements of mini-satellites are currently in discussion and under consideration for future space missions. CubeSat technologies offer an interesting possibility for space-born telescope payloads based on this approach. In such scenario, two small satellites will fly at a constant distance of a few meters up to 100 meters. Thereby, the front satellite will carry the telescope optics and the second satellite the detector system. The tandem flight arrangements are crucial for design of space telescopes with larger focal distances exceeding the typical sizes of small satellites. KW - satellite KW - CubeSat KW - payload KW - tandem flight KW - Kleinsatellit Y1 - 2025 VL - 2025 SP - 12 EP - 12 PB - Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg CY - Würzburg ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Hudec, Rene T1 - One decade of joint Bavarian-Czech projects on astronomical X-ray optics N2 - Since ten years, Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Czech technical university in Prague are now cooperating. During the recent decade, eleven joint projects have been executed, mainly targeting the development of astronomical X-ray optics. The bilateral cooperation also included the exchange of PhD students and scientists, cost compensation for conference participations, and the sponsoring of scientific conferences (AXRO and IBWS). The scientific output up to date are more than twenty joint publications and many individual conference contributions of the project partners in addition. The Bavarian-Czech Academic Agency (BTHA) has funded all of these projects. It is the goal of the Bavarian-Czech Academic Agency to support the academic collaboration in research and education and to contribute to an increased cooperation of the two neighbored countries Bavaria and Czech Republic in general. We will give a review on one decade of our Bavarian-Czech cooperation and on the scientific results of our joint projects on astronomical X-ray optics. KW - X-ray KW - optics KW - astronomy KW - AXRO KW - IBWS KW - Röntgenoptik KW - Röntgenastronomie KW - Bayern KW - Tschechien Y1 - 2025 VL - 2025 IS - 16 SP - 1 EP - 1 PB - 16th International Conference on Astronomical X-ray Optics CY - Prag ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Stehlikova, Veronika A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Stollenwerk, Manfred A1 - Stadtmüller, Johannes A1 - Marsikova, Veronika A1 - Hudec, Rene A1 - Flachs, Dennis A1 - Burwitz, Vadim A1 - Hartner, Gisela A1 - Rukdee, Surangkhana A1 - Müller, Thomas A1 - Schmidt, Thomas A1 - Inneman, Adolf A1 - Klementova, Mariana A1 - Zeising, Sebastian A1 - Langmeier, Andreas T1 - Lobster eye type X-ray telescope with chromium-iridium coated tri-layer mirrors T2 - Proceedings of SPIE N2 - 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. KW - telescope KW - Lobster Eye KW - X-ray KW - mirror KW - iridium KW - Röntgenteleskop KW - Röntgenspiegel Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589266 VL - 2021 IS - 11776 SP - 1177605-1 EP - 1177605-8 PB - SPIE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Stollenwerk, Manfred A1 - Stadtmüller, Johannes A1 - Zeising, Sebastian A1 - Flachs, Dennis A1 - Stehlikova, Veronika A1 - Burwitz, Vadim A1 - Krumrey, Michael K. A1 - Cotroneo, Vincenzo A1 - Klementova, Mariana T1 - Characterisation of X-ray mirrors based on chromium-iridium tri-layer coatings T2 - Proceedings of SPIE N2 - Iridium-based layer systems are highly effective mirror coatings for space-born X-ray telescopes. During the recent years, Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and its partners developed stress compensated chromium-iridium coatings for such astronomical applications, using chromium as an adhesive layer between iridium reflective layer and mirror substrate. However, there was room for improvement: To overcome the disturbing reflectivity reduction of the iridium absorption edge around 2 keV photon energy, thin overcoat layers of chromium are applied in addition now. This layer system has been analyzed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. Furthermore, the reflectivity of such innovative X-ray mirrors based on chromium-iridium tri-layer coatings was recently measured at PTB's four-crystal monochromator beamline at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II. The experimental results, obtained for photon energies between 1.9 keV and 11 keV at two grazing incidence angles (0.6 degree and 0.9 degree) and their comparison with corresponding simulations are presented in this contribution. When compared to simulations of pure iridium coatings, a significantly higher reflectivity was achieved especially in the soft X-ray regime between 2 keV and 4 keV. Such chromium-iridium tri-layer coatings have high potential to increase the effective area for X-ray telescopes in Lobster Eye Design, for Wolter-I type X-ray optics, and for silicon pore optics as considered for the ATHENA telescope of the European Space Agency. KW - iridium KW - mirror KW - X-ray KW - coating KW - telescope KW - Röntgenspiegel KW - Röntgenteleskop KW - Iridium Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2592551 VL - 2021 IS - 11776 SP - 1177607-1 EP - 11776076 PB - SPIE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Khropost, Diana A1 - Riethmüller, Franziska A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Flachs, Dennis A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Cotroneo, Vincenzo A1 - Gibertini, Eugenio ED - Hudec, René ED - Pina, Ladislav T1 - Polydopamine: a bio-inspired polymer for X-ray mirror coatings and other technical applications T2 - EUV and X-ray Optics: Synergy between Laboratory and Space IX N2 - Although the organic molecule dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is commonly known as one of the “hormones of happiness”, thin polymer films of polydopamine (PDA) also have interesting technical properties. PDA is a very strong glue that sticks on almost everything, even under water. In nature, PDA is found in the byssal thread cuticles of mussels. When produced by dip-coating, the self-organizing PDA layers grow in a reproducible thickness of single or multiple molecule monolayers of a few nanometres thickness only. Here we present an optimized preparation regime as derived from polymerization analysis through absorption spectroscopy. One application is the use of thin PDA overcoatings to increase the soft X-ray reflectivity of astronomical X-ray mirrors. Furthermore, we give an outlook to other technical applications for this interesting material, presenting this bio-inspired organic polymer as an innovative technical solution for the future, with applications such as PDA-based super-capacitors and its promising role in enhancing separator materials for batteries. KW - polydopamin KW - ellipsometry KW - X-ray KW - battery KW - Röntgenspiegel KW - Beschichtung Y1 - 2025 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3056298 VL - 2025 IS - 13531 SP - 135310H-1 EP - 135310H-11 PB - SPIE ER - TY - GEN A1 - Khropost, Diana A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Riethmüller, Franziska A1 - Hülagü, Deniz T1 - Poly-dopamine - an organic material for X-ray mirror coatings and other technical applications T2 - AXRO 2024 - 15th International Conference on Astronomical X-Ray Optics N2 - Although the organic molecule dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is commonly known as the “hormone of happiness”, thin polymer films of poly-dopamine also have interesting technical properties. When produced by dip coating, these self-organizing layers grow in a reproducible thickness of single or multiple molecule monolayers of a few nanometre thickness only. One application is the use of thin poly-dopamine overcoatings to increase the soft X-ray reflectivity of astronomical X-ray mirrors. We thereby introduce a method of determining the layer thickness of poly-dopamine, which is based on spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements and applies an optical model for the poly-dopamine layers including their dielectric function. Furthermore, we give an outlook to other technical applications for this promising material, presenting this bio-inspired organic polymer as an innovative technical solution for the future. N2 - Poster KW - poly-dopamine KW - X-ray mirror KW - X-ray astronomy KW - ellipsometry KW - thin layers KW - Röntgenspiegel Y1 - 2024 VL - 2024 SP - 1 EP - 1 ER -