cosine’s High Energy Optics business unit is world-leading in the development and delivery of X-ray optics and systems, including X-ray diffraction and imaging spectroscopy. We combine and apply knowledge about semiconductor processes, silicon, glass micro-pore optics technology and mass production to develop and produce light-weight, high-resolution X-ray optics. Applications range from space-based astrophysical applications to medical, semiconductor and material analysis systems used by industry and academia.

With our expertise in X-ray technologies, we can solve your X-ray imaging, focusing, modeling and analysis challenges.

Space-based astronomy

cosine staff has been involved in different high-energy astrophysics missions for over 20 years. We have worked on ESA missions such as Beppo-Sax and XMM-Newton, but also on NASA missions such as NuSTAR and NICER. We have actively worked on the high-energy optics, on their calibration, on the science data analysis and on the simulators used for these missions. cosine now uses that unique expertise and heritage to develop and produce the optics for the next generation X-ray telescopes, such as Athena and ARCUS.

Medical

Optics design and production expertise is essential to develop new high-energy optics systems for medical applications. cosine staff designs, models and builds reflective X-ray and gamma-ray focusing and imaging systems and is acquainted with the latest source and detector technologies to develop new solutions for medical applications.

Material analysis

X-rays interact with matter and can be used to analyze material composition by using techniques such as for example fluorescence spectroscopy or X-ray diffraction. Through cosine’s heritage in the design and production of high-energy optical systems, we have the necessary expertise to design new systems for material analysis. We use the latest techniques and detectors developed for highly demanding space applications to come up with innovative systems.

HIGH ENERGY DETECTION

products, systems and methodology

cosine High Energy Optics creates new systems and methods for high energy detection in a wide range of techniques.

SPO

Silicon Pore Optics

The most lightweight high-quality X-ray optics in the world. Selected for ESA’s Athena mission.

New generation, lightweight, high-resolution X-ray optics

The SPO optics are modules that consist of stacked X-ray mirrors that together form a small X-ray lens. Due to the light passing through hollow pores, the modules have very low mass compared to other X-ray optics technology with similar imaging resolution.

Coatings on the silicon mirror plates allow for high energy X-ray and gamma ray focusing. A larger or smaller number of these modules can be combined to form a full X-ray lens for X-ray astronomy and ground-based X-ray instrumentation.

XRI

X-ray interferometer

Combining interferometry in combination with Silicon Pore Optics, cosine can deliver optics with unprecedented angular precision.

Separating extremely small angles

The SPO mirror technique is capable of the required extreme precision in alignment needed for interferometric imaging.

Using interferometry, unprecedented angular resolution can be achieved of 1 million times compared to simple lensing.

SiLC

Silicon Laue Lens components

For very hard X-ray/gamma ray applications and shorter focal lengths, a Laue lens can be an efficient alternative method of focusing.

Optics for hard X-ray and soft gamma rays

In the very high energy range, the solution of mirroring is not possible, as the maximum reflective angle becomes too small. In this case using a Laue lens is the preferred solution.

Using diffraction through a bend or mosaic crystal, imaging can be achieved where it is not otherwise possible. Using a SPO based technique, where bent and wedged single crystal Silicon plates are stacked without pores, allows for superior Silicon Laue lenses.

XRT

High-energy optics simulation

Quickly determine realistic system performance and features.

X-ray and gamma ray imaging systems simulation

The high energy optics software simulates X-ray and gamma-ray imaging systems based on grazing incidence scattering using the Monte Carlo technique. The software offers control of the surface properties and scattering processes at each individual interaction.

Additionally, the geometry of the surfaces and the imaging system, as well as the incoming beam and the resulting image patterns on the detector surface are fully under control of the user.