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Nanometer scale structures such as multilayers, gratings and natural crystals are playing an increasing role in spectroscopic applications for X-ray astrophysics. A few examples are briefly described as an introduction to current and planned applications pursued at the Danish Space Research Institute in collaboration with the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics, Nieuwegein, the Max-Planck-Institut fur Extratemestrische Physik, Aussenstelle Berlin, the Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Ovonics Synthetic Materials Company and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

X-80 is one of the five missions being studied by ESA and a candidate for selection. The scientific aims and the main characteristics of the model payload will be discussed.

High-resolution spectra of Fe xxv have been observed from Princeton Large Torus tokamak discharges and are used for a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions of Bely-Dubau, Gabriel, and Volont\'e for the ($1{s}^{2}nl\ensuremath{-}1s2pnl$, $ng~3$) dielectronic satellites at 1.85 \AA{}. The theory predicts a significant apparent broadening of the resonance lines of high-$Z$ heliumlike ions in high-temperature plasmas due to the dielectronic capture of electrons into outer atomic shells. The experimental results and theoretical predictions are in good general agreement.

Temporally and spatially resolved profiles of the PDX soft x‐ray spectra have been measured during single tokamak pulses of circular divertor plasmas with a recently developed pulse‐height analyzer. This detection system incorporates an array of five vertically displaced sets of lithium‐drifted silicon detectors, each consisting of three independent channels optimized for rapid data collection in adjacent energy regions. Simultaneous measurements of x‐ray emission integrated along five chords of the plasma cross section can, thereby, be achieved. Abel inversion of these data yields temporally resolved radial profiles of the local electron temperature from the slope of the continuum, concentrations of high‐Z impurities from the characteristic line intensities, and a measure of Zeff from the continuum intensity. The techniques of x‐ray pulse‐height analysis, with illustrations featuring the results from the initial PDX circular plasma experiments, are discussed in detail. In addition, comparisons between ci...

A measurement of Sco X-1 with the graphite-crystal polarimeters on the OSO 8 satellite yields upper limits (3 sigmas) to the linear polarization of 2.7% and 4.9% at 2.6 keV and 5.2 keV, respectively. The results are discussed in terms of an accretion-disk model.

Results of a search for X-ray polarization in the Crab pulsar are presented which were obtained by observing the pulsar at 2.6 and 5.2 keV with identical X-ray polarimeters aboard OSO 8. The polarization in different portions of the X-ray light curve is analyzed, the polarization contribution due to the nebula is removed, and the results of the analysis are given for isolated portions of both the primary pulse and the interpulse at 2.6 and 5.2 keV. No evidence for X-ray polarization is found at the 99% confidence level; 3-sigma upper limits to the polarization at 2.6 keV are given along with the largest polarization allowed at 5.2 keV by the 99% confidence counter. It is noted that the trailing edge of the interpulse at 2.6 keV is 26% polarized at the 92% confidence level, while the 5.2-keV polarization measurement of 40% in the leading edge of the primary pulse is different from zero at 96% confidence. X-ray and optical polarization measurements are compared.

We report the results of X-ray emission measurements made at various plasma locations in the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U). By manipulating the electron and ion density profiles within the magnetic mirror end cells, a local minimum in the axial electrostatic potential creates a barrier that thermally isolates central cell electrons from those in the end cells. This thermal barrier makes it possible to heat end cell electrons to a temperature (~1.6 keV) that is significantly higher than the central cell value (30 to 200 eV), thereby increasing the ion confining potential. Formation of this potential peak is attributable, in part, to mirror-trapped hot ions (8 keV) that are injected as beams of neutral particles. The resulting ion density profile exhibits two symmetric peaks at the locations of the ion turning points and a depression where the magnetic field is a minimum. Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) is applied at the density minimum and produces a population of hot, mirror-trapped electrons (20 to 200 keV). It reduces an already depressed electrostatic potential to establish the thermal barrier. In addition, ECRH applied at the outer density peak raises the -ion confining potential and enhances central cell ion confinement by increasing the end cell electron temperature. X-ray measurements are made with solid state and scintillation detectors at the ECRH locations. Medium resolution spectra are obtained over a broad energy band and have proven to be an important tool for determining the efficiency of thermal barrier formation. We present our initial findings from these non-Maxwellian plasmas.

The linear X-ray polarization of the Crab Nebula has been precisely measured at 2.6 keV and 5.2 keV with the OSO 8 graphite crystal polarimeters. The 1.4 ms time resolution of these instruments permitted the removal of any contribution to the polarization from the pulsar. The nebular polarization is 19.2% plus or minus 1.0% at a position angle of 156.4 plus or minus 1.4 deg at 2.6 keV. At 5.2 keV the corresponding results are 19.5% plus or minus 2.8% at 152.6 plus or minus 4.0 deg.