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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Electroforming involves numerous parameters, many of which are inter-dependent. The model must be particular to the application and no such model currently exists for ours. We have confirmed the usefulness of such an approach within our group by qualitatively recreating part of the edge effect observations with a simple initial model representation. The objective for this period of performance is to generate a predictive model, which will then be validated using physical data. The generated model will be used to optimize the physical plating configuration. Additionally, the thickness variation of small optics which is currently ~10% will be brought to <5% using model outputs. This will not only further compliment the modeling effort, but will improve performance of these optics which is of interest to organizations currently partnered with us (LLNL and SNL) to improve these optics. The next step, not under this period of performance, is further improving model predictive power and applying it to different dimensional scales and optics. Further work is expected to be funded as part of future projects once the benefit has been clearly demonstrated here.
To enable future astrophysics and heliophysics science missions, sub-arcsecond resolution grazing incidence optics are required. Current process degrades angular resolution (~20 arcseconds optic typical) due optic thickness non-uniformity, variations up to 10%. Process may be improved via modeling, but no model is currently available. This work aims to generate a predictive model of the electroforming process to decrease thickness variation to <5% and improve technical readiness for ultimately achieving sub-arcsecond resolution.
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