Design of a new long beam X-ray test facility for ATHENA

摘要

The European Space Agency (ESA) mission ATHENA is a next generation large X-ray observatory which is slated to be launched in the early 2030s. It will have mirror assembly with 2.6-m diameter and a 12-m focal length that is made up of ～600 Silicon Pore Optic (SPO) mirror modules integrated into mirror assembly support structure. Existing facilities cannot calibrate the such a large mirror assembly in full illumination. To avoid having to make compromises during calibration of the mirror assembly a new long beam X-ray test facility would be required. A study for ESA on a such a new long beam X-ray test facility and the necessary GSE has been performed by a team from MPEs PANTER X-ray test facility. Here we present the current status of the design of a 800-m long and 2.8-m diameter beam line X-ray test facility in Garching, Germany.