Conical foil x-ray mirrors: performance and projections

For the past decade, we have been developing at Goddard conical grazing incidence mirrors in an effort to increase the sensitivity and resolution of astronomical observations in the iron K spectral band around 7 keV. Tightly packed conical foils give us the option of trading some imaging capability for light weight, large throughput, and low cost, all crucial requirements at the higher energies where grazing angles become very small. Nearing the completion of the broad band x-ray telescope for NASA's SHEAL II mission, we have decided important design and fabrication issues including reflector substrate material and supports and most techniques for reflector preparation, mirror assembly, and alignment. We will review the design, fabrication, status, and performance of our present mirrors. Future applications along with prospects for improved spatial resolution for these mirrors will be discussed.