Prof. DeRoo has been awarded a NASA Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) grant for his proposed study of customized X-ray gratings for future NASA missions.

The two-year, $600k award will facilitate studies of gratings patterned with electron-beam lithography (EBL) on curved surfaces. The award, executed in conjunction with the McEntaffer group of Pennsylvania State University, will result in the fabrication and measurement of three gratings on curved surfaces to demonstrate the control of the precise patterning process over non-planar substrates.

The grant award also results in Prof. DeRoo being selected as a Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellow by NASA Astrophysics. The fellowship is intended to cultivate future leaders in technology development and NASA astrophysics missions, and makes him eligible to apply for additional grant support during the fellowship period.

The picture above is the spectrum of a black hole as observed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, taken with on-board grating spectrometer. Prof. DeRoo's study is aimed at realizing a new generation of X-ray gratings which would be suitable for use in future X-ray observatories.

Read the University of Iowa's new story here: https://now.uiowa.edu/2021/07/physicist-wins-award-space-based-technology