Graduate Student Seminar with Mary Iskakova

Next-generation soft X-ray missions, such as the Lynx X-ray observatory, are being proposed to increase the effective area of Chandra while keeping sub-arcsecond imaging resolution. Low-voltage thin-film actuators based on electroactive polymers can address the need for adjustable mirror control in future X-ray missions such as Lynx. Polymers can produce high strains at low voltages and correct the deformations that submillimeter-thick mirror shells will experience in future X-ray missions. Fabrication of polymer-based thin films is a low-cost, scalable technology that can easily be translated to production by industrial partners. Mary will present metrology results on prototype actuators based on micrometer-scale PVDF-TrFE polymer films deposited on glass substrates. She will also talk about general graduate school-related matters and offer advice on same.