The water jet's significant 'processing depth' facilitates the parallel slicing of larger specimens, simultaneously providing continuous cooling to the cut zone and the efficient removal of severed materials.
Synova SA's Laser Microjet technology, a Swiss innovation, is currently being utilized by cosine in the Netherlands for the precision cutting of novel X-ray optics. These components are crucial for the European Space Agency's (ESA) forthcoming NewAthena space observatory, which aims to map the high-energy universe.
X-rays, known for their energetic properties, diverge from the behavior of ordinary light waves by not reflecting off standard mirrors but requiring reflection at minimal angles, similar to stones skimming water. This necessitates the assembly of multiple mirrors to focus the X-rays effectively. The NewAthena observatory will utilize 'silicon pore optics,' a design that involves the meticulous stacking of tens of thousands of mirror plates crafted from industrial silicon wafers-commonly used in silicon chip production.
This innovative technology, developed collaboratively by ESA, cosine, and additional partners, will facilitate the construction of a 2.6-meter diameter X-ray lens for the NewAthena telescope. With the production of these mirror modules now in the demonstration phase and mass production on the horizon, NewAthena is gearing up for its 2037 launch, poised to become one of ESA's flagship 'Large class' missions.
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