Calibration and test of optical modules for the ATHENA telescope with the X-ray facility BEaTriX

Representative image for thesis Tutors: Daniele Spiga, Bianca Salmaso, Stefano Basso
Triennial’s Thesis (3 months) and Master’s Thesis (6-9 months).

The realization of modular optics for the ATHENA X-ray telescope, based on silicon pore optics (SPO) represents an unprecedented technological challenge, on both sides of the process: manufacturing precise optics for a 2.5 m diameter telescope and their qualification.
In the ATHENA consortium, INAF-OAB works on the X-ray characterization; to this end, in the Merate seat we have realized BEaTriX, a world-unique X-ray calibration facility.
BEaTriX generates a wide (17 cm x 6 cm), parallel and monochromatic beam within a small lab, allowing us to directly measure the focusing accuracy of the SPO modules at their production rate.

The graduate student shall work on the preparation and the optimization for the measurement setup, as well as the X-ray characterization of optical modules.