Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array

Arthur B. C. Walker II; Joakim F. Lindblom; Ray H. O'Neal; Maxwell J. Allen; Troy W. Barbee Jr.; Richard B. Hoover

doi:10.1117/12.55640

1 June 1990 Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array

Arthur B. C. Walker II, Joakim F. Lindblom, Ray H. O'Neal, Maxwell J. Allen, Troy W. Barbee Jr., Richard B. Hoover

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 29, Issue 6, (June 1990). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55640

Abstract

The development of multilayer optics has profound implications for soft x-ray/extreme ultraviolet (XUV) astronomy. During the October 1987 flight of the Stanford/Marshall Space Flight Center Rocket X-Ray Spectroheliograph, narrow wavelength band, low scatter soft x-ray/extreme ultraviolet spectroheliograms were obtained with ~ 1 arcsec spatial resolution at ? ~ 173 Å (Fe IX, Fe X) and at ? - 256 Å (He II Ly-?). Although the Cassegrain telescopes used in this experiment were small (63.5 mm diameter) and utilized spherical rather than paraboloidal/hyperboloidal mirrors, the images produced exceed in quality any XUV spectroheliograms previously obtained with either normal or grazing incidence techniques. We describe a new rocket spectroheliograph instrument, the MultiSpectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA), that is currently being prepared for launch in August 1990. This instrument will utilize true Ritchey-Chrétien optics of 127 mm diameter and parabolic Herschelian optics of 40 mm diameter, which will allow spectroheliograms to be obtained over the soft x-ray/extreme ultraviolet/far ultraviolet spectral range (40 to 1550 Å). The performance of this new instrument should definitely demonstrate the unique combination of ultrahigh spatial resolution and spectral differentiation that multilayer optics afford for astronomical observations. The MSSTA will also represent the first astronomical use of an important new optical device, the multilayer grating. The MSSTA should obtain unprecedented information regarding the structure and dynamics of the solar atmosphere in the temperature range 104 to 107 K.

Citation Download Citation

Arthur B. C. Walker II, Joakim F. Lindblom, Ray H. O'Neal, Maxwell J. Allen, Troy W. Barbee Jr., and Richard B. Hoover "Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array," Optical Engineering 29(6), (1 June 1990). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55640

Published: 1 June 1990

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available