CRITICAL-ANGLE TRANSMISSION (CAT) GRATING

Scanning electron micrograph of the hierarchical structure of a large-area CAT grating membrane fabricated from a silicon-on-insulator wafer.

Shaping of thin-foil x-ray optics

X-ray optics for space-based applications need to be wafer-thin AND maintain accurate figure.

Home of the MIT Nanoruler

The Nanoruler is the first tool to implement the patented patterning technique called Scanning Beam Interference Lithography (SBIL). (© Volker Steger, Science Photo Library)

The Chandra X-Ray Observatory

The SNL fabricated hundreds of transmission gratings for the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on board of Chandra, launched in 1999, and still operating. (Image credit: NASA/CXC/SAO)

X-ray optics shape correction using ion implantation

Ion implantation of thin-foil x-ray mirrors has the potential to correct figure at the sub-arcsec level. (© Ralf Heilmann)
Advanced X-Ray and EUV Diffraction Gratings

Advanced X-Ray and EUV Diffraction Gratings
The innovative Critical-Angle Transmission (CAT) grating combines the best of transmission and reflection gratings in the soft x-ray band...
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Shaping of Thin-Foil X-Ray Optics

Shaping of Thin-Foil X-Ray Optics
We are pioneering alternative methods for the shaping and figure correction of thin-foil optics utilized as grazing-incidence mirrors in space-based x-ray telescopes...
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Scanning Beam Interference Lithography: The Nanoruler

Scanning Beam Interference Lithography: The Nanoruler
The Nanoruler is a prize-winning tool for the rapid high-precision patterning of large-area gratings...
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Watch a video about the SNL
Jan. 2025: Paper on "Machine Learning Driven Measurement of High-Aspect-Ratio Nanostructures Using Mueller Matrix Spectroscopic Ellipsometry" selected as an Editor's Pick by JVSTB
Jul 2024: Successful MaGIXS-2 sounding rocket flight with SNL/Izentis reflection grating
Apr 2024: Successful Hi-C Flare sounding rocket flight with SNL/Izentis reflection grating
Feb 2024: Dr. Schattenburg gives invited talk on “metrology challenges for fabrication of high aspect-ratio, nano-scale x-ray diffraction gratings” at SPIE meeting on Advanced Lithography + Patterning in San Jose, CA
Nov 2023: Congratulations to Mallory Whalen for receiving the R. V. Jones Student Scholarship at the 38th ASPE Annual Meeting!
Oct 2023: Increased soft x-ray diffraction efficiency with oxidation/vapor-HF-thinned CAT gratings demonstrated
Sept 2023: Congratulations to Dr. Yao to his new position at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center!
July 2023: Congratulations to Dr. Wisniewski to his successful Ph.D. defense!
June 2023: Congratulations to Mallory Whalen to her Master’s degree!
More News
Aug 2017: Arcus, a NASA MIDEX mission proposal based on CAT gratings, silicon-pore optics, and x-ray CCDs, has been selected for a Phase A concept study.
Feb 2016: Record high soft x-ray grating spectrometer resolving power > 10,000 demonstrated!