Technology challenges of active x-ray optics for astronomy

Adjustable x-ray optics offer the promise of much higher imaging resolution with lightweight optics, providing the key technology for the development of the next generation of astronomical x-ray telescopes such as Generation-X. These adjustable grazing incidence optics might be adjusted only once, on-orbit. To produce theses optics will require the development of several component technologies along with their integration into a new mirror concept. In this paper we define a number of the key technologies necessary for adjustable x-ray optics for astronomy, give a brief description of the issues involved, and some status of these activities being developed as part of our adjustable optics development program at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.