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About

Ivo Ferreira is a specialist in X-ray space telescope optics, with a research focus centered on Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) technology and its application to next-generation high-energy astrophysics missions. His work has been instrumental in advancing the optical systems for ESA's ATHENA (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) mission, one of the most ambitious X-ray observatories ever planned. Ferreira's contributions span the full development pipeline of SPO technology — from the fundamental stacking of thin silicon mirror plates to the complex alignment, assembly, and integration of hundreds of mirror modules onto large telescope structures. His research addresses the critical challenge of aperture segmentation, enabling lightweight yet high-performance X-ray optics built using semiconductor manufacturing techniques and precision robotics. He has also contributed to facility design for large-scale mirror module integration, a logistical and engineering challenge of considerable complexity given ATHENA's requirement for 678 co-aligned SPO modules. With a body of work accumulating citations across multiple international SPIE conference proceedings, Ferreira's research has helped establish SPO as a mature, adaptable technology applicable beyond ATHENA, including NASA's Arcus mission candidate. His work represents a vital contribution to the future of X-ray astronomy instrumentation.