12.19.22
Canatu and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a contract to develop an optical blocking filter using a unique carbon nanotube (CNT)-based support structure and investigate its applicability for the ATHENA (Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics) telescope.
The optical blocking filter is designed to let x-rays pass through while blocking out other wavelengths, enabling precise imaging of celestial objects. Such filters are extremely fragile, so they are typically provided with a metal mesh support.
During the nine-month project, Canatu will develop a fully CNT-based x-ray filter with a totally new CNT support structure providing higher transmittance at x-ray compared to metal mesh. In this project, Canatu collaborates with Ametek Finland and the University of Palermo (UNIPA).
This collaboration builds upon Canatu and ESA’s earlier project on optical filter development, signifying the ESA’s trust in Canatu’s technology and ability to create transformative solutions for the most demanding applications.
“We look forward to our continued collaboration with ESA on this exciting new project,” said Ilkka Varjos, CTO of Canatu. “Our unique expertise is to adapt Canatu CNT network structures for different contexts and uses. A fully CNT-based optical filter is a prime example of an application where advanced Canatu CNT can have a transformative impact.”
“Canatu CNT has significant potential for a variety of new applications in the fields of x-ray astronomy and beyond due to its extremely high x-ray transmittance, robustness to pressure differentials, and chemical inertness. For this reason, a new activity has been financed to verify these qualities in x-ray astronomy and demonstrate the technology’s readiness for a space application, added Alessandra Ciapponi, optoelectronic engineer for the European Space Agency.
The optical blocking filter is designed to let x-rays pass through while blocking out other wavelengths, enabling precise imaging of celestial objects. Such filters are extremely fragile, so they are typically provided with a metal mesh support.
During the nine-month project, Canatu will develop a fully CNT-based x-ray filter with a totally new CNT support structure providing higher transmittance at x-ray compared to metal mesh. In this project, Canatu collaborates with Ametek Finland and the University of Palermo (UNIPA).
This collaboration builds upon Canatu and ESA’s earlier project on optical filter development, signifying the ESA’s trust in Canatu’s technology and ability to create transformative solutions for the most demanding applications.
“We look forward to our continued collaboration with ESA on this exciting new project,” said Ilkka Varjos, CTO of Canatu. “Our unique expertise is to adapt Canatu CNT network structures for different contexts and uses. A fully CNT-based optical filter is a prime example of an application where advanced Canatu CNT can have a transformative impact.”
“Canatu CNT has significant potential for a variety of new applications in the fields of x-ray astronomy and beyond due to its extremely high x-ray transmittance, robustness to pressure differentials, and chemical inertness. For this reason, a new activity has been financed to verify these qualities in x-ray astronomy and demonstrate the technology’s readiness for a space application, added Alessandra Ciapponi, optoelectronic engineer for the European Space Agency.