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Light Path
The Chandra Observatory is first oriented toward a cosmic X-ay source.
See the animation. (Illustration: CXC / D.Berry & A.Hobart)
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Light Path - Showing Mirrors, HRC
Next, X-ray photons entering the telescope are reflected at grazing angles
and focused onto an electronic detector to make an image of a cosmic
source. See the animation. (Illustration: CXC / D.Berry & A.Hobart)
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Light Path - Close-up of HRC
Here is a closeup showing the focusing of the X-rays onto an electronic
detector. See the animation. (Illustration: CXC / D.Berry & A.Hobart)
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Mirror
Comparison
X-rays that strike a mirror head-on are absorbed. See the animation. (Illustration: CXC/D.Berry)
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Nested X-ray
Mirrors
X-rays that hit a mirror at grazing angles are reflected like a pebble
skipping across a pond. Thus, X-ray telescope mirrors are shaped like
barrels rather than dishes. See the animation. (Illustration: CXC/D.Berry)
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Focusing
X-rays
Chandra's X-ray mirror assembly focuses X-rays onto a detector to produce an image.
View the animation. (Illustration: CXC/D.Berry)
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Schematic of Grazing
Incidence, X-Ray Mirror
This cutaway illustrates the design and functioning of the High Resolution
Mirror Assembly (HRMA) on Chandra. (Illustration:
CXC/D.Berry)
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Schematic of Grazing
Incidence, X-Ray Telescope
This cross section through four nested pairs of mirrors illustrates the
principle of grazing incidence reflection and focusing of X-rays. Two
reflections are required to make an image. The grazing angles range from
about 3.5 degrees for the outer pair to about 2 degrees for the inner
pair. (Illustration: CXC/S. Lee)
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