Assessing the Capabilities of Adjustable X-ray Mirrors with Thin-film Actuators

X-ray observatories are critical for studying a myriad of high-energy sources in the Universe: black holes, hot plasma surrounding galaxies, and the atmospheres of stars. Proposed X-ray missions such as Lynx, AXIS, and STAR-X baseline telescopes with thin mirrors while achieving high angular resolution. I propose to perform a trade-study assessing the correction capabilities of two promising thin-film actuator technologies which could enable these next-generation X-ray telescopes. The two actuator technologies are lead zirconate titanate (PZT), a cermaic material, and poly(vinylidene fluoridetrifluoroethylene) (PVDF-TrFE), an electroactive polymer. PZT is a well understood piezoelectric material that can enable a large degree of mirror correctability due to its strong piezoelectric coefficient. Alternatively, PVDF-TrFE is weaker than PZT in terms of piezoelectric actuation. However, devices using PVDF-TrFE actuators can be fabricated using lower temperature processes than PZT and result in less undesirable stress on a mirror during fabrication. This proposed program leverages two previous NASA programs that have studied these technologies independently, but goes beyond them to assess the trade-off between figure errors introduced during the fabrication of actuators on the mirror surface vs. the performance of those actuators in correcting the mirror. The goal of this program is thus to guide future technology maturation efforts for adjustable X-ray mirror systems.

This work will utilize high precision optical metrology to measure the performance of both PZT and PVDF-TrFE actuators for use in X-ray mirrors. My proposed project has three main objectives: I) measure the performance of next-generation PZT actuators on an adjustable X-ray mirror, II) measure the stresses induced from fabricating PVDF-TrFE actuators on thin mirrors, and III) measure the performance of PVDF-TrFE actuators on both a flat silicon substrate and a curved glass substrate. The objectives outlined in this proposal are scheduled to be completed over the next three years and are the intended subject of my dissertation

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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