Phase Fresnel Lens Nanofabrication

Using NASA APRA and internal GSFC funding, PFLs have been fabricated using MEMS techniques at both UMCP and GSFC and have been characterized to have nearly diffraction-limited imaging, ~14 milli-arcseconds in the best case. Initial work was also completed by using a PFL and refractive component to produce an acromat that significantly extended the X-ray bandwidth of the imaging. However, MEMS fabrication is costly and time consuming, which makes prototyping new designs difficult. What is needed is a cost-effective and rapid fabrication technique to fabricate new PFL-based designs with improved performance and then characterize their performance at the GSFC 600-m Interferometry Testbed. The hot embossing technique (a micro-scale "off-set printing" approach) recently developed by Northeaster University offers this possibility. DELIVERABLE IN FY16: At least one Phase Fresnel Lens of design for an appropriate X-ray energy and focal length that can be characterized in the GSFC 600-m Interferometry Testbed.

Heliophysics is also interested in using PFLs to perform high-angular resolution X-ray measurements of solar phenomena. PFLs have very long, 100 m -> >> km focal lengths (depending on X-ray energy and PFL diameter). Work is moving forward on developing formation-flying satellites (with N. Shah, Code 591) and we are part of a recently selected EPSCoR proposal (NMSU, PI institution) to develop a CubeSat mission to demonstrate formation flying and PFL imaging. Initial deliverable will be PFL(s) that will be characterized in the 600-m Interferometry Testbed. Based on these results, the NEU fabrication technique could be used to fabricate PFLs for the EPSCoR CubeSat mission. The development of highly efficient and lightweight X-ray optics that image near the diffraction limit and over a wide energy range would be a transformational technical development. Evaluating the NEU nanofabrication technique will allow NASA/GSFC to evaluate its potential in material engineering.

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