The X-ray Telescope
X-rays can't be focused using conventional mirrors or lenses.
Depending on their energy, X-rays either pass right through or are
absorbed by such materials. However, X-rays can be focused if
they strike a metal surface at a shallow angle. Suzaku uses two
such "grazing incidence" reflections to focus X-rays.
X-rays are reflected off pieces of thin aluminum that are coated
with gold. Each of these reflectors is shaped like a section of a
cone. This means that each reflector is roughly rectangular in shape,
but it is curved along its length. .
The reflectors are 10 cm wide, and range in length from about
9 cm to about 29 cm. Incoming X-rays strike the mirror along its
width. The reflectors are assembled to form a
completed mirror.
The reflectors are arranged in the mirror concentrically, about 170 deep.
Each mirror consists of about 1350 reflectors, is about 40 cm in diameter,
and has a mass of about 19 kg.
Suzaku carries 5 X-ray mirror assemblies, one for the XRS, and
four for the X-ray Imaging Spectrometers.
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A cross section of a portion of an
Suzaku mirror. Lines show
the path of photons passing through a precollomator, and then off the
primary and secondary reflectors.
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One of the Suzaku reflectors.
(Click for larger view)
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A portion of the completed X-ray mirror.
Click for a video clip of Curtis Odell showing the arrangement of the
reflectors (or foils) in the mirror.
(Description)
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One of the five Suzaku mirrors. X-rays pass through this mirror from the top through to
the bottom.
(Click for larger view.)
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Publication Date: June 2005
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