Fabrication of high-energy x-ray transmission gratings for the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)

Mark L. Schattenburg; Richard J. Aucoin; Robert C. Fleming; Irving Plotnik; Jeanne Porter; Henry I. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.186810

16 September 1994 Fabrication of high-energy x-ray transmission gratings for the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)

Mark L. Schattenburg, Richard J. Aucoin, Robert C. Fleming, Irving Plotnik, Jeanne Porter, Henry I. Smith

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2280, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy V; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.186810
Event: SPIE's 1994 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1994, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The High Energy Transmission Grating spectrometer (HETG) on the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) requires the fabrication and assembly of hundreds of large area (approximately equals 6 cm²), low-distortion, ultra-fine-period transmission gratings efficient in the 0.4-10 keV band ((lambda) equals 1.2-30 angstroms). The spectrometer requires two types of gratings: Medium Energy Gratings (MEG), which have a period of 0.4 micrometers and consist of gold bars 0.4 micrometers thick, and High Energy Gratings (HEG), which have a period of 0.2 micrometers and consist of gold bars 0.7 micrometers thick. Both types are supported by 0.5-1.0 micrometers -thick polyimide membranes. The gratings are fabricated using a variety of techniques including interference lithography, tri-level resist processing, reactive-ion etching, and gold microplating. An earlier approach which utilized x-ray lithography has been abandoned. Recent efforts have focussed on improving the yield and robustness of the many complicated fabrication steps, and improving the profile of the grating bars. We present details of the fabrication procedure and discuss the issues associated with developing an optimal fabrication process.

Citation Download Citation

Mark L. Schattenburg, Richard J. Aucoin, Robert C. Fleming, Irving Plotnik, Jeanne Porter, and Henry I. Smith "Fabrication of high-energy x-ray transmission gratings for the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)", Proc. SPIE 2280, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy V, (16 September 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.186810

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