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arXiv · 2207.00512

X-Ray Optics for Astrophysics: a historical review

Finn E. Christensen·Brian D. Ramsey
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Abstract

Grazing-incidence X-ray optics have revolutionized X-ray astrophysics. The ability to concentrate flux to a tiny detection region provides a dramatic reduction in background and a consequent very large improvement in sensitivity. The X-ray optics also permit use of small-format, high-performance focal plane detectors and, of course, especially for high-angular-resolution optics, provide a wealth of imaging data from extended sources. This review, follows the use of X-ray optics from the first rocket-borne instruments in the 1960s through to the Observatories flying today and being developed for future use. It also includes a brief overview of the challenges of fabricating X-ray optics and the various technologies that have been used to date

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Finn E. Christensen, Brian D. Ramsey. 2022-07-01. X-Ray Optics for Astrophysics: a historical review. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4544-0_1-1

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