Electron Beam Lithography Ruled Gratings for Future Ultraviolet/Optical Missions: High-Efficiency and Low-Scatter in the Vacuum Ultraviolet

This Strategic Astrophysics Technology proposal will develop to technology readiness level (TRL) 6+ a new method of grating fabrication adapted from X-ray astronomy into high efficiency, low scatter gratings for the far-ultraviolet (FUV; 912 - 2000 Angstroms) and beyond. This effort will directly address a high priority technology gap identified in the 2017 NASA Cosmic Origins Program Annual Technology Report as well as support the NASA large mission concepts LUVOIR and HabEx in preparation for the 2020 Decadal Survey and prior to mission PDR in the mid-2020's. We will adapt an electron beam lithography ruling method that has successfully produced low scatter X-ray gratings with diffraction efficiencies within 90% of the theoretical maximum for the FUV by fabricating four gratings for NASA flight projects that will each progressively push the complexity of the technology. This effort will culminate in the fabrication of a prototype variable line spacing (VLS) grating based on the specifications of the LUVOIR Multi-Object Ultraviolet Spectrograph (LUMOS) to demonstrate directly the benefits for NASA's large mission concepts of the future. This proposal will advance e-beam lithography from TRL 3 to 6 by achieving four principal objectives in a three year program: i. Fabricate gratings that match the specifications of three existing NASA sounding rocket instruments, each adding additional layers of complexity (TRL 4). ii. Characterize the efficiency and scatter profile of each grating (TRL 5). iii. Install each into their respective instrument for end-to-end testing (TRL 6) iv. Fabricate and test a grating that meets the specifications of LUVOIR-LUMOS Flight qualification of this fabrication methodology represents the cross-pollination of NASA technology development by including the PIs of technology projects spanning the Physics of the Cosmos and Cosmic Origins programs. This SAT will directly benefit future NASA missions while synergistically leveraging existing flight projects for maximum scientific impact. Each grating fabricated will be flight tested on a sounding rocket platform after demonstration of performance for no additional cost to further raise the TRL to 7.

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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