A soft x-ray beam-splitting multilayer optic for the NASA GEMS Bragg Reflection Polarimeter

Ryan Allured; Mónica Fernández-Perea; Regina Soufli; Jennifer B. Alameda; Alicia Maxwell; Michael J. Pivovaroff; Eric M. Gullikson; Philip Kaaret

doi:10.1117/12.930093

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19 October 2012 A soft x-ray beam-splitting multilayer optic for the NASA GEMS Bragg Reflection Polarimeter

Ryan Allured, Mónica Fernández-Perea, Regina Soufli, Jennifer B. Alameda, Alicia Maxwell, Michael J. Pivovaroff, Eric M. Gullikson, Philip Kaaret

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Proceedings Volume 8502, Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics and Components VII; 850206 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930093
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A soft X-ray, beam-splitting, multilayer optic has been developed for the Bragg Reflection Polarimeter on the NASA Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer Mission (GEMS). The optic is designed to reflect 0.5 keV X-rays through a 90 degree angle to the BRP detector, and transmit 2-10 keV X-rays to the primary polarimeter. A transmission requirement prevents the use of a thick substrate, so a 2 µm thick polyimide membrane was used. Atomic force microscopy has shown the membrane to possess high spatial frequency roughness less than 0.2 nm rms, permitting adequate X-ray reflectance. A multilayer thin film was especially developed with reflectance and transmission properties that satisfy the BRP requirements and with near-zero stress. Multilayer depositions for prototype reflectors have been performed via magnetron sputtering. Reflectivity and transmission measurements closely match theoretical predictions, both before and after rigorous environmental testing.

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Ryan Allured, Mónica Fernández-Perea, Regina Soufli, Jennifer B. Alameda, Alicia Maxwell, Michael J. Pivovaroff, Eric M. Gullikson, and Philip Kaaret "A soft x-ray beam-splitting multilayer optic for the NASA GEMS Bragg Reflection Polarimeter", Proc. SPIE 8502, Advances in X-Ray/EUV Optics and Components VII, 850206 (19 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.930093

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