Development of the HEFT and NuSTAR focusing telescopes

Hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray astrophysics is on the verge of a major advance with the practical realization of technologies capable of efficiently focusing X-rays above 10 keV. Hard X-ray focusing telescopes can achieve orders of magnitude improvements in sensitivity compared to the instruments based on coded apertures and collimated detectors that have traditionally been employed in this energy band. Compact focal planes enable high-performance detectors with good spectral resolution to be employed in efficient, low-background configurations. We have developed multilayer coated grazing incidence optics and solid state Cadmium Zinc Telluride focal plane systems for the High Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT) balloon-borne experiment, and for the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Small Explorer satellite. In this paper we describe the technologies, telescope designs, and performance of both experiments.     

An image drift compensation system for a solar pointed space telescope

An Image Drift Compensation System has been designed for a solar pointed space borne telescope and has performed successfully on two sounding rocket flights, yielding new scientific results. The system employs limb-sensing photodiodes at the telescope focal plane and provides drift compensation to better than 0.1 arc sec. A variation of the system will be used on the Shuttle/Spacelab 2 flight of the High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS) Instrument.Originally submitted to the journalSpace Science Instrumentation.     

New Scintillators for Focal Plane Detectors in Gamma-Ray Missions

Recent developments of cerium-doped lanthanum-halide scintillators like LaBr₃:Ce show a remarkable performance in gamma-ray spectroscopy. When high energy resolution in combination with stopping power is required they provide excellent gamma-ray detector candidates for the use in space missions. Moreover, irradiation tests have shown that such detectors are radiation tolerant. In this paper we discuss a possible application of LaBr in nuclear astrophysics missions. We show results on recent proton irradiation tests at KVI in Groningen (NL) and discuss the damage and activation effects after irradiation. A possible implementation for a focal plane detector in a gamma-ray telescope and the expected performance is presented.     

Performance of the Nuclear Compton Telescope

On 1 June 2005, the prototype Nuclear Compton Telescope (NCT) flew on a high altitude balloon from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. NCT is a balloon-borne soft γ-ray (0.2–10 MeV) telescope for studying astrophysical sources of nuclear line emission and γ-ray polarization. Our program is designed to develop and test technologies and analysis techniques crucial for the Advanced Compton Telescope; however, our detector design and configuration is also well matched to the focal plane requirements for focusing Laue lenses. The NCT prototype utilizes two, 3D imaging germanium detectors (GeDs) in a novel, ultra-compact design optimized for nuclear line emission in the 0.5–2 MeV range. Our prototype flight provides a critical test of the novel detector technologies, analysis techniques, and background rejection procedures developed for high resolution Compton telescopes.     

Comments on the next generation of ground-based solar telescopes

The development of telescope capabilities tends to go in spurts. These are triggered by the availability of new techniques in optics, mechanics and/or instrumentation. So has nighttime telescope technology developed since the construction in the nineteen-forties of the 5-m Hale telescope, first by the introduction in the sixties of high efficiency electronic detectors, followed recently by the production of large 8- to 10-m mirrors and now by the implementation of adaptive optics. In solar astronomy, major steps were the introduction of the coronagraph by Lyot in the nineteen-thirties and the vacuum telescope concept by Dunn in the sixties. In the last thirty years, telescope developments in solar astronomy have relied primarily on improved instrumental capabilities. As in nighttime astronomy, these instruments and their detectors are reaching their limits set by the quantum nature of light and the telescope diffraction. Larger telescopes are needed to increase sensitivity and angular resolution of the observations. In this paper, I will review recent efforts to increase substantially the telescope capabilities themselves. I will emphasize the concept of a large all-wavelength, coronagraphic telescope (CLEAR) which is presently being developed.Dedicated to Cornelis de Jager     

Image Stabilization System for Hinode (Solar-B) Solar Optical Telescope

The Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is the first space-borne visible-light telescope that enables us to observe magnetic-field dynamics in the solar lower atmosphere with 0.2 – 0.3 arcsec spatial resolution under extremely stable (seeing-free) conditions. To achieve precise measurements of the polarization with diffraction-limited images, stable pointing of the telescope (<0.09 arcsec, 3σ) is required for solar images exposed on the focal plane CCD detectors. SOT has an image stabilization system that uses image displacements calculated from correlation tracking of solar granules to control a piezo-driven tip-tilt mirror. The system minimizes the motions of images for frequencies lower than 14 Hz while the satellite and telescope structural design damps microvibration in higher frequency ranges. It has been confirmed from the data taken on orbit that the remaining jitter is less than 0.03 arcsec (3σ) on the Sun. This excellent performance makes a major contribution to successful precise polarimetric measurements with 0.2 – 0.3 arcsec resolution. K. Kobayashi now at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812, USA.     

IFU Unit in Scorpio-2 Focal Reducer for Integral-Field Spectroscopy on the 6-m Telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences

We describe the scheme and design features of the new IFU unit (Integral Field Unit) meant to perform integral-field spectroscopy as a part of SCORPIO-2 focal reducer, which is mounted in the prime focus of the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophyscial Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The design of the unit is based on the principle of the formation of array spectra using a lens raster combined with optical fibers. The unit uses a rectangular raster consisting of 22×22 square 2-mm diameter lenses. The image of the object is transferred by an optical system with a 23^× magnification from the focal plane of the telescope to the plane of the lens raster. The image scale is —0.″75/lens and the field of view of the instrument has the size of 16.″5 × 16.—5². The raster also contains two extra 2 × 7 lens arrays to acquire the night-sky spectra whose images are offset by ±3′from the center. Optical fibers are used to transform micropupil images into two pseudoslits located at the IFU collimator entrance. When operating in the IFU mode a set of volume phase holographic gratings (VPHG) provides a spectral range of 4600–7300 Å and a resolution λ/δλ of 1040 to 2800. The quantum efficiency of SCORPIO-2 field spectroscopy is 6–13% depending on the grating employed.We describe the technique of data acquisition and reduction using IFU unit and report the results of test observations of the Seyfert galaxyMrk 78 performed on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.     

A Si/CdTe Compton Camera for gamma-ray lens experiment

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) have been regarded as promising semiconductor materials for hard X-ray and γ-ray detection. However, a considerable amount of charge loss in these detectors results in a reduced energy resolution. We have achieved a significant improvement in the spectral properties by forming the Schottky junction on the Te side of the CdTe wafer. With the further reduction of leakage current by an adoption of guard ring structure, we have demonstrated a CdTe pixel detector with high energy resolution and full charge collection capabilty. The detector has a pixel size of a few mm and a thickness of 0.5 $-$ 1 mm. We apply this high resolution detector to a new silicon and CdTe Compton Camera which features high angular resolution. We also describe a concept of the stack detector which consists of many thin CdTe layers and provides sufficient efficiency for hard X-rays and gamma-rays up to several hundred keV maintaining good energy resolution. A narrow-FOV Compton telescope can be realized by installing a Si/CdTe Compton Camera inside the deep well of an active shield. This configuration is very suitable as focal plane detector for future focusing gamma-ray missions.     

Simulated performance of dedicated Ge-strip Compton telescopes as γ-lens focal plane instrumentation

With focusing of gamma rays in the nuclear-line energy regime starting to establish itself as a feasible and very promising approach for high-sensitivity γ-ray (line) studies of individual sources, optimizing the focal plane instrumentation for γ-ray lens telescopes is a prime concern. Germanium detectors offer the best energy resolution available at ∼2 keV FWHM at 1 MeV and thus constitute the detector of choice for a spectroscopy mission in the MeV energy range. Using a Compton detector focal plane has three advantages over monolithic detectors: additional knowledge about (Compton) events enhances background rejection capabilities, the inherently finely pixellated detector naturally allows the selection of events according to the focal spot size and position, and Compton detectors are inherently sensitive to γ-ray polarization. We use the extensive simulation and analysis package assembled for the ACT vision mission study to explore achievable sensitivities for different Ge Compton focal plane configurations as a first step towards determining an optimum configuration.CBW thanks the Townes Fellowship at UCB and NASA Grant NNG05WC28G for Support.     

The High Resolution Spectrograph for Spectrum UV

The Spectrum-UV mission, a general purpose ultraviolet observatory equipped with a 170-cm aperture telescope for imaging and spectroscopy in the 912 to 3600 Å range, will be launched in a seven days, high elliptical orbit in the late '90s by a Proton booster. The German contribution to the focal plane instrument complex is described: HIRDES, a High Resolution Double Echelle Spectrograph.     

Polarization comparison between on-axis and off-axis dual reflector telescopes: Zemax and Grasp8 simulations

The cross-polarization performance for an off-axis dual reflector telescope is shown to be equivalent to an on-axis telescope when used for a large-format focal plane array. The need for low sidelobes forces the on-axis designs to high curvature, which in turn leads to high cross-polarization at the edge of the field. A scheme for correcting instrumental-polarization is presented, as well as a full design for a polarization-pure optical system capable of supporting a 1000-element focal plane array.     

FIRST RESULTS OF THE SUMER TELESCOPE AND SPECTROMETER ON SOHO – II. Imagery and Data Management

SUMER – Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation – is not only an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometer capable of obtaining detailed spectra in the range from 500 to 1610 Å, but, using the telescope mechanisms, it also provides monochromatic images over the full solar disk and beyond, into the corona, with high spatial resolution. We report on some aspects of the observation programmes that have already led us to a new view of many aspects of the Sun, including quiet Sun, chromospheric and transition region network, coronal hole, polar plume, prominence and active region studies. After an introduction, where we compare the SUMER imaging capabilities to previous experiments in our wavelength range, we describe the results of tests performed in order to characterize and optimize the telescope under operational conditions. We find the spatial resolution to be 1.2 arc sec across the slit and 2 arc sec (2 detector pixels) along the slit. Resolution and sensitivity are adequate to provide details on the structure, physical properties, and evolution of several solar features which we then present. Finally some information is given on the data availability and the data management system.     

CCD astronomical applications for X-ray temporal studies

Charge coupled devices (CCDs) are under active investigation as imaging detectors in future X-ray astronomy satellites. The exploitation of such detectors holds great promise because of their capability to perform simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy. Unfortunately, standard readout techniques give a temporal resolution insufficient to study X-ray sources showing variability on timescales less than few seconds. In this paper alternative, non-imaging readout modes are investigated, in order to achieve millisecond temporal resolution for point-like sources. Simulation results are presented for the EPIC camera, the focal plane instrument for ESA's mission XMM, showing that the required temporal capabilities can be reached without loss of energy resolution.Work performed in part at the IFC/CNR, Milan, supported by a special EPIC grant from LABEN S.p.A.     

Interferometry with the Large Binocular Telescope

The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) will be the largest single telescope in the world when it is completed in 2005. The unique structure of the telescope incorporates two, 8.4 meter diameter primary mirrors on a 14.4 meter center-to-center mounting. This configuration provides the equivalent collecting area of a 12 meter telescope, and when combined coherently, the two optical paths offer very interesting possibilities for interferometry. Two initial interferometric instruments are planned for the LBT. A group based at the University of Arizona is constructing LBTI, a pupil-plane, nulling beam combiner operating in the thermal infrared N band. This instrument will search for and measure zodiacal light in candidate stellar systems for the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) and Darwin missions. Expansion ports can accomodate additional instruments. A second group, based in Heidelberg, Arcetri, and Köln, is building LINC-NIRVANA, a near-infrared Fizeau-mode beam combiner. This type of observation preserves phase information and allows true imagery over a wide field of view. Using state-of-the-art detector arrays, coupled with advanced adaptive optics, LINC-NIRVANA will deliver the sensitivity of a 12 m telescope and the spatial resolution of a 23 m telescope, over a field of view up to 2 arc minutes square.     

The Ground-based Experiment of the Prototype of Planetary (& Lunar) Rotation Monitor Telescope

The scientific objective of the Planetary (& Lunar) Rotation Monitor (PRM) telescope is to study the terrestrial planet's (the Moon's) rotation and its interior structure and physics by in-situ observation. In order to verify the brand new principle of observations and the data processing method, the prototype of the telescope is designed and manufactured. The prototype's optical system consists of a commercial telescope and trihedron mirror set placed at the entrance of its light path to realize the capability of observing three fields of view (FOVs) simultaneously. The ground-based validation observation began in 2017, and the images containing the stars from three FOVs were achieved. Star images from different FOVs are initially mixed together, but they can be classified into the three FOVs respectively by calculating the displacement of star images on the CCD plate between two adjacent exposures, to make the observational effect be identical with three independent observations of the three FOVs respectively. After image processing, from the orientation variation of the three FOVs simultaneously in space due to the Earth's rotation, the direction of the rotation axis of the Earth in space can be derived. Its deviation from the theoretical value is about 1${}^{″}$ in average, indicating that the working principle and data processing method are effective. The main errors in observations are discussed, including the atmospheric refraction, the thermal deformation of the commercial telescope tube, the low optical resolution caused by the short focal length, the optical aberration in the multi-FOV observation, etc. It is indicated that the spatial resolution of the telescope can be enhanced with a longer focal length, and the observational reliability can be improved by optimizing the thermal deformation control. Improving the optical design in the simultaneous observation of multiple FOVs will also be helpful to the accuracy enhancement.     

Solar dynamics imaging system a back-end instrument for the proposed NLST

The Solar Dynamics Imaging System (SDIS) will be one of the focal plane instruments operated at the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST). The prime objective of the instrument is to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution images of the region of interest on the Sun in the wavelength range from 390 nm to 900 nm. The SDIS provides filtergrams using broad-band filters while preserving the Strehl ratio provided by the telescope. Furthermore, the SDIS is expected to provide observations that allow image reconstruction to extract wave front information and achieve a homogenous image quality over the entire FOV.     

The Spectrum-UV Mission: an International Ultraviolet Observatory

The Spectrum-UV Mission is an ultraviolet space observatory, scheduled to be launched at the break of the century into a 7-day, highly excentric orbit aboard a Spectrum Series platform. The Observatory is endowed with a 170-cm aperture telescope and a focal plane instrument complement for spectroscopy and imaging in the 912 to 3600 range. The results of an advanced feasibility study, being carried out in the four partecipating Countries (Germany, Italy, Russia and Ukraine) are presented.     

阻导风板及其在NVST上的测试结果

太阳望远镜采用全开式圆顶有许多好处,但是此时风对望远镜产生比较大的扰动。为了减少风对望远镜的影响,设计了阻导风板,并在实际应用中得到了很好的结果。全面介绍了阻导风板的原理、结构,并给出了设计要点及在1m红外太阳望远镜（NewVacuum Solar Telescope,NVST）上的实测结果。     

High-resolution Imaging of the Upper Solar Chromosphere: First Light Performance of the Very-high-Resolution Advanced ULtraviolet Telescope

The Very-high-resolution Advanced ULtraviolet Telescope (VAULT) experiment was successfully launched on 7 May 1999 on a Black Brant sounding rocket vehicle from White Sands Missile Range. The instrument consists of a 30 cm UV diffraction limited telescope followed by a two-grating, zero-dispersion spectroheliograph tuned to isolate the solar L emission line. During the flight, the instrument successfully obtained a series of images of the upper chromosphere with a limiting resolution of 0.33 arc sec. The resulting observations are the highest-resolution images of the solar atmosphere obtained from space to date. The flight demonstrated that sub-arc second ultraviolet images of the solar atmosphere are achievable with a high-quality, moderate-aperture space telescope and associated optics. Herein, we describe the payload and its in-flight performance.