X-ray lobster eye optics and telescopes (Conference Presentation)

This presentation focuses on the use of arrays of Micro Pore Optics (MPOs) to create large field of view lobster eye telescopes. The University of Leicester has been at the forefront of this technology since 1991 when Fraser et al. presented the idea at SPIE. I will discuss the history of using Microchannel Plates (MCPs) as optics from the initial lab experiments which demonstrated their performance, up to the new laboratory experiments we are running to further develop and improve the technology. The missions which have employed these optics, from the already launched BepiColombo to upcoming missions such as SVOM, SMILE and Einstein Probe, will be presented. Recent results and discoveries from the LEIA mission, launched July 2022, will also be shown. Ideas for future missions and further research areas will also be considered.