Development of a computer-controlled polishing process for x-ray optics

Future X-ray observatory missions require grazing-incidence X-ray optics with angular resolution of < 5 arcsec half power diameter. For X-ray mirrors fabricated using replication processes, the achievable resolution depends ultimately on the quality of the polished replication mandrels. With an aim to fabricate better mirror shells, and also to reduce the cost/time of mandrel production, a computer-controlled machine is being developed for deterministic and localized polishing of mandrels. A key component in this is software that predicts the surface residual errors under a given set of operating parameters and lap configuration. Design considerations of the polishing lap are discussed and the effects of nonconformance of the lap and the mandrel are presented.