Description
Image slicers have undergone significant progress for use in the space sector. However, the current solutions do not meet the required specifications for the next generation of space missions. Outstanding science questions require higher resolutions and sensitivity with reduced weight within minimum dimensions and at a low cost. Image slicers have never observed in the Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV), a spectral range that contains emission lines which enables the study of particle acceleration, a fundamental process throughout the universe arising in: the Sun, active galactic nuclei, black holes, gamma ray bursts, planetary magnetospheres, neutron stars and accretion disks. Observing in the EUV introduces additional challenges such as: low photon flux, low reflectivity of coatings and the sensitivity of detectors.
Our project LUCES focussed on the space qualification of the image slicer technology for space application to enable integral field spectroscopy in the EUV. The application of this technology in the next generation of solar space missions will create 2D spectral images in seconds, over two orders of magnitude faster than the status quo. We present the unprecedented improvements achieved in slicer width and surface roughness for glass and metallic slicers, applicable to all spectral ranges. We will show the first multi-layer dielectric coating used on slicer mirrors. Finally, we will discuss the next steps towards space qualification and the application to a compact, high efficiency, high resolution solar integral field spectrograph for space: SISA. These developments can be applicable beyond solar physics, including HWO and many other sciences cases and missions.
