A. Peacock

European Space Research and Technology Centre

Papers

Total Citations

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About

A. Peacock is a prominent researcher in X-ray astronomy instrumentation and space telescope technology, with particular expertise in advanced optics development for next-generation astronomical observatories. Their most significant contribution lies in pioneering silicon pore optics — a revolutionary approach to manufacturing lightweight, high-performance X-ray telescope mirrors that overcomes the mass and structural limitations of traditional nickel electro-forming and polished glass technologies. This work, their most cited publication with 22 citations, addresses the demanding requirements of missions needing angular resolutions better than 5 arcseconds and effective areas of up to 5 m² at 1 keV. Much of Peacock's career has been closely tied to the X-ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy (XEUS) mission, an ambitious European Space Agency project designed to probe the distant hot universe with sensitivity rivaling next-generation observatories like NGST and ALMA. Through multiple contributions to XEUS mission design, instrument development, and optics status reporting, Peacock has played a sustained and central role in shaping Europe's X-ray astronomy roadmap. Their body of work reflects a dedication to solving the formidable engineering challenges that stand between conceptual science goals and operational space observatories.