Metrology Cross-checks - a fundamental aspect of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) Optics Fabrication Program

Abstract

The AXAF observatory is the third of NASA's four planned "Great Observatories"1. It is designed to image cosmic x-rays in the energy regime of 0.1 to 10 keV (124 - 1.24 Å). The mirror assembly consists of four concentric, confocal, Wolter type I telescopes. Each telescope includes two conical grazing incidence mirrors, a paraboloid followed by a hyperboloid.