Abstract

The large X-ray mirrors for the HEAO-2 telescope were shaped, ground, polished, metallized, tested, assembled, and aligned by Perkin-Elmer under contract to American Science and Engineering (AS&E). These X-ray mirrors, when assembled into .their flanges formed the X-Ray Telescope High Resolution Mirror Assembly (HRMA) designed by Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and AS&E. This paper describes the optical fabrication and testing of these X-ray mirrors.

Particular emphasis is placed on the support of the optics during the three critical fabrication phases: loose abrasive grinding during which the circumferential variation in slope, Δ(ΔR), was achieved; optical testing, during the optical figuring phase; and optical alignment, during final assembly. Also discussed are the optical figuring, surface smoothing via submerged polishing and figure measurement using a semiautomatic fringe scanner and modular interferogram analysis computer programs. The pertinent specifications for the X-ray mirrors and the achievements of the program are summarized.

© 1980 Optical Society of America