The development of the THESEUS SXI optics

TL;DR

This paper details the design and development of the THESEUS SXI optics, a lobster eye X-ray module with Micro Pore Optics, aiming for high-resolution transient X-ray monitoring in a future space mission.

Contribution

It presents the design of the THESEUS SXI lobster eye optics and discusses methods to improve MPO performance during Phase A development.

Findings

Optics design for the SXI modules is finalized.

Methods to enhance MPO performance are under investigation.

Performance goals include 4.5 arcmin resolution and 1 arcmin localization accuracy.

Abstract

The Transient High Energy Sources and Early Universe Surveyor is an ESA M5 candidate mission currently in Phase A, with Launch in $\sim$2032. The aim of the mission is to complete a Gamma Ray Burst survey and monitor transient X-ray events. The University of Leicester is the PI institute for the Soft X-ray Instrument (SXI), and is responsible for both the optic and detector development. The SXI consists of two wide field, lobster eye X-ray modules. Each module consists of 64 Micro Pore Optics (MPO) in an 8 by 8 array and 8 CMOS detectors in each focal plane. The geometry of the MPOs comprises a square packed array of microscopic pores with a square cross-section, arranged over a spherical surface with a radius of curvature twice the focal length of the optic. Working in the photon energy range 0.3-5 keV, the optimum $L/d$ ratio (length of pore $L$ and pore width $d$) is upwards of 50 and is constant across the whole optic aperture for the SXI. The performance goal for the SXI modules is an angular resolution of 4.5 arcmin, localisation accuracy of $\sim$1 arcmin and employing an $L/d$ of 60. During the Phase A study, we are investigating methods to improve the current performance and consistency of the MPOs, in cooperation with the manufacturer Photonis France SAS. We present the optics design of the THESEUS SXI modules and the programme of work designed to improve the MPOs performance and the results from the study.