Ultra-Precise X-ray Imaging based on Nano Manufacturing and Measurement Technology for Revealing Dynamics of the Solar Corona

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26247031
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Sakao Taro 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (00225781)
• Research Collaborator: SUEMATSU Yoshinori ; YAMAUCHI Kazuto ; MATSUYAMA Satoshi ; NARUKAGE Noriyuki
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 太陽物理学 / X線結像光学 / ナノ加工 / ナノ計測 / スペースオプティックス / 宇宙科学 / 量子ビーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

X-ray imagery of the Sun’s corona with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution is a key to understand dynamics of coronal plasmas. This research was conducted to realize high-precision grazing-incidence X-ray mirrors (Wolter mirrors). The research was designed to repeat the following steps: (1) Determine target improvement (amount of reduction) of figure error amplitudes of the mirror for each spatial scale; (2) Identify and devise approaches for mirror polishing and measurement; (3) Fabricate an engineering mirror; and (4) Evaluate its X-ray imaging performance utilizing highly-parallel X-ray beam of SPring-8 synchrotron facility. We succeeded in fabricating a precision Wolter mirror whose spatial resolution reaching down to the diffraction limit (~0.1 arcsec) with 8 keV X-rays. This implies that we have established methodology as well as technology necessary to realize Wolter mirrors with sub-arcsecond resolution.

Free Research Field

X線太陽物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

天体のX線撮像観測に用いられる斜入射ミラーは、波長の短いX線を精密に結像させるため、製作にナノレベルの加工精度と計測精度が必要である。米国のメーカーが撤退して以降、世界中で作れなくなっていた高精度斜入射ミラーを国産で開発することをめざして研究を進め、空間分解能が回折限界に到達する極めて高精度のミラーを実現することに成功した。研究を通じてミラーの加工と計測の方法論および技術基盤を国内に蓄積した。