Technology maturation for a high-sensitivity and high-resolving power x-ray spectrometer

With NASA support, MIT is developing a revolutionary type of lightweight, high efficiency and high resolving power x-ray spectrograph called the critical angle transmission (CAT) x-ray grating spectrometer (CAT-XGS) that addresses specific science elements within the Astro2020 Decadal Review. Concentrated technology development has produced nanofabricated grating elements assembled into prototype spectrometers with an unprecedented combination of resolving power and diffraction efficiency. Technology has advanced to the point where it was selected for the Lynx design reference mission reviewed by the Decadal committee, and also the Arcus x-ray spectrometer proposed for a NASA MidEx mission. A series of prototype flight grating spectrometers using CAT gratings have been built and x-ray tested, meeting Arcus mission requirements and passing environmental tests. This technology is targeted to Explorer class as well as and X-ray Probe and Strategic missions called for in the Astro2020 Decadal Review. Effort to date has primarily addressed basic issues of grating design, manufacturability, metrology, alignment, assembly and test of prototype components that, while meeting the requirements of Explorer missions, fall short of the requirements for probes or strategic missions where improvements of resolving power, diffraction efficiency and the sheer number of gratings required for missions place stringent demands that go beyond current capability. We propose to address technical issues impeding progress, specifically to increase the grating bar aspect ratio using advanced technology including new Enhanced Silicon-on-Insulator (E-SOI) wafers now coming onto the market. Tall, thin, and vertically aligned grating bars are essential for high spectrometer efficiency and resolving power. We propose to address challenges in nanofabrication technology that will enable improved spectrometer performance meeting strategic requirements, while reducing the cost and complexity of the manufacturing steps.

The Strategic Astrophysics Technology program (SAT) supports focused development efforts for key technologies to the point at which they are ready to feed into major missions in the three science themes of the Astrophysics Division: Exoplanet Exploration, Cosmic Origins, and the Physics of the Cosmos. This program is specifically designed to address middle technology readiness level (TRL) "gaps" between levels 3 and 6: the maturation of technologies that have been established as feasible, but which are not yet sufficiently mature to incorporate into flight missions without introducing an unacceptable level of risk. NASA does not require a data management plan for proposals to SAT.

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