Prof. Casey DeRoo of University of Iowa has been awarded a grant from NASA's Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program (APRA) to study adjustable X-ray optics with polymer actuators. The effort, led by Prof. Manel Errando of Washington University in St. Louis, seeks to make thin X-ray mirrors that are capable of being adjusted following manufacture, mounting, and even in-flight. The mirrors will have a polymer thin-film on the surface of the wafer which contracts when voltage is applied across the layer. By dividing this thin film into cells, different parts of the mirror can be moved by applying a potential, "correcting" the mirrors' figure.

University of Iowa will supply glass mirrors for the effort as well as perform metrology to characterize the devices following fabrication. Additional information about the award is covered in the IowaNow article here.