Soft X-Ray Images of the Solar Corona Using Normal Incidence Optics

A solar coronal loop system has been photographed in soft X-rays using a normal incidence telescope based on multilayer mirror technology. The telescope consisted of a spherical objective mirror of 4 cm aperture and 1 m focal length, a film cassette, and a focal plane shutter. A metallized thin plas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Astronomical Union Colloquium 1988, Vol.102, p.115-118
Main Authors: Bruner, M.E., Haisch, B.M., Brown, W.A., Acton, L.W., Underwood, J.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:A solar coronal loop system has been photographed in soft X-rays using a normal incidence telescope based on multilayer mirror technology. The telescope consisted of a spherical objective mirror of 4 cm aperture and 1 m focal length, a film cassette, and a focal plane shutter. A metallized thin plastic film filter was used to exclude visible light. The objective mirror was covered with a multilayer coating consisting of alternating layers of tungsten and carbon whose combined thicknesses satisfied the Bragg diffraction condition for 44 Å radiation. The image was recorded during a rocket flight on 1985 October 25, and was dominated by emission lines arising from the Si XII spectrum. The rocket also carried a high resolution soft X-ray spectrograph that confirmed the presence of Si XII line radiation in the source. This image represents the first successful use of multilayer technology for astrophysical observations.
ISSN:0252-9211
DOI:10.1017/S0252921100107559