If the grazing mirrors can reflect X-ray, then can they reflect visible spectrum light as well? In other words, can an X-ray scope do the work of both Xray imaging and normal visible spectrum imaging?
If I had to guess, it would have been an X-Ray sensitive CCD. But, of course, when someone informs me that they would have to focus it due its larger collection area, I would have been clueless. Great, informative video! Next up: γ-Ray telescope!
To observe the X-ray universe, astronomers needed something utterly new. Angel was one of the first to design a telescope that would get the job done. In 1978, at forty-four years old, Angel was on a plane flying home from a Christmas holiday in England, passing the time by flipping through the pages of the December issue of Scientific American. An article titled “Animal Eyes with Mirror Optics” caught his attention. In the depths of Earth’s oceans-a place less explored by humans than the surface of the moon-was a creature with eyes unlike any Angel had ever seen: the lobster. The lobster’s inky orbs forgo lenses like our own and instead harness an entirely different technique to focus light. It was then and there-somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean-that the lowly lobster crawled out of the ocean and into the pages of astronomy, providing Angel with the inspiration for a telescope that could catch X-rays millions of light-years away. His idea preceded Hubble by a decade, but it was only many decades later that our technology was finally sophisticated enough for his vision to launch into space. The architecture of a lobster eye makes more sense, although it’s certainly an anomaly. Typically, animals like insects have hexagonal eye structures because this provides the greatest packing density. The lobster’s eyes are instead rectangles, in which the length of the mirrored tubes is double or triple the width. This ensures the rays are reflected off two of the mirrored faces but not more. The mirrors also form corner reflectors, meaning light returns in the direction from which it came. This sometimes happens in clothing shops or hair salons, where no matter what direction you look when you peer into the mirror, it reflects your image back. Angel found this intriguing. Since X-rays can power right through technology, they need to be snagged at a slight angle-or grazing incidence. The lobster eye provides a beautiful template for skidding the X-rays off the mirrored walls and onto a single point. “I had my article half written by the time we landed in Chicago,” said Angel.25 The title of that article said it all: “Lobster Eyes as X-ray Telescopes.”
Great video, but I think x-rays are more likely to be absorbed in a traditional mirror rather than pass through it. I think the small wavelengths would make transmittance less likely, but it still depends on the thickness and composition of the mirror.
You and me both! Ah yes, I didn't mean to forget eROSITA (although it's operations are currently paused). It actually looks like it has a much shorter design, unlike Chandra which needs its long "tunnel" to get the light focused. This might require further reading on my behalf...
Excellent and fascinating presentation. Great graphics. Definitely interested in gamma ray telescopes!
Thanks very much!
A brilliant presentation. Many thanks. Yes to a video on gamma ray telescopes.
Thanks David, gamma ray telescopes are sounding like a good idea!
Absolutely fantastic informative video. YEs please we want to see Gamma Rays Telescope working basics. God bless you.
Thanks very much!
Great explanation and graphics. No, I didn't know how they worked! And, yes to gamma ray telescopes!
Thanks :)
You're luck for gamma telescopes: ruclips.net/video/-1gRR9J8FZo/видео.html
Totally interested in how gamma ray telescopes work. I wasn't expecting the difference between X-rays and UltraViolet. Thank you for your content
If the grazing mirrors can reflect X-ray, then can they reflect visible spectrum light as well? In other words, can an X-ray scope do the work of both Xray imaging and normal visible spectrum imaging?
Glad it is named after subramanyam Chandrashekar an Indian origin physiscist
yes to gamma explanation
Thanks! You're in luck! :) ruclips.net/video/-1gRR9J8FZo/видео.html
you didnt mention the mask x-ray telescopes use to distinguish between diffent x ray sources
Good point! It's hard to cover everything in a bite-sized video, but you're right that the masks they use are pretty cool!
10/10 Absolutely loved this video! Yes to gamma!❤❤
If I had to guess, it would have been an X-Ray sensitive CCD. But, of course, when someone informs me that they would have to focus it due its larger collection area, I would have been clueless. Great, informative video! Next up: γ-Ray telescope!
To observe the X-ray universe, astronomers needed something utterly new. Angel was one of the first to design a telescope that would get the job done. In 1978, at forty-four years old, Angel was on a plane flying home from a Christmas holiday in England, passing the time by flipping through the pages of the December issue of Scientific American. An article titled “Animal Eyes with Mirror Optics” caught his attention. In the depths of Earth’s oceans-a place less explored by humans than the surface of the moon-was a creature with eyes unlike any Angel had ever seen: the lobster. The lobster’s inky orbs forgo lenses like our own and instead harness an entirely different technique to focus light. It was then and there-somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean-that the lowly lobster crawled out of the ocean and into the pages of astronomy, providing Angel with the inspiration for a telescope that could catch X-rays millions of light-years away. His idea preceded Hubble by a decade, but it was only many decades later that our technology was finally sophisticated enough for his vision to launch into space.
The architecture of a lobster eye makes more sense, although it’s certainly an anomaly. Typically, animals like insects have hexagonal eye structures because this provides the greatest packing density. The lobster’s eyes are instead rectangles, in which the length of the mirrored tubes is double or triple the width. This ensures the rays are reflected off two of the mirrored faces but not more. The mirrors also form corner reflectors, meaning light returns in the direction from which it came. This sometimes happens in clothing shops or hair salons, where no matter what direction you look when you peer into the mirror, it reflects your image back. Angel found this intriguing. Since X-rays can power right through technology, they need to be snagged at a slight angle-or grazing incidence. The lobster eye provides a beautiful template for skidding the X-rays off the mirrored walls and onto a single point. “I had my article half written by the time we landed in Chicago,” said Angel.25 The title of that article said it all: “Lobster Eyes as X-ray Telescopes.”
What does the RAW image that comes back or the first to see it look like?
Great vid 👍👍👍
Thanks!
Did not know and excellent explanation
Thanks!
Great video, but I think x-rays are more likely to be absorbed in a traditional mirror rather than pass through it. I think the small wavelengths would make transmittance less likely, but it still depends on the thickness and composition of the mirror.
can you upload about how infrared telescopes work?
Thanks. Very interesting and informative, both this one and the one about gamma ray telescopes 👍🏻
Not going to lie, I did not know how X-ray telescopes work, haha.
Don't forget eROSITA, which is the most recent X-ray satellite!
You and me both!
Ah yes, I didn't mean to forget eROSITA (although it's operations are currently paused). It actually looks like it has a much shorter design, unlike Chandra which needs its long "tunnel" to get the light focused. This might require further reading on my behalf...