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About

Laura Proserpio is a key figure in the development of next-generation X-ray astronomy, specializing in the fabrication and integration of lightweight, high-resolution X-ray optics. Her research focuses on the slumping of borosilicate glass sheets—a technique critical for building the large collecting areas needed for future space missions while keeping costs and mass low. Proserpio’s most cited work, “Accurate integration of segmented x-ray optics using interfacing ribs” (2013, 21 citations), addresses the core challenge of achieving arcsecond-level angular resolution in segmented mirrors, proposing a novel integration method using interfacing ribs to maintain precise alignment. She also contributed foundational designs for the XEUS mission (now part of Athena), demonstrating how slumped glass can deliver the required 5–6 m² effective area at 1 keV. Her ongoing work at MPE (Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics) has advanced integration from manual setups to high-precision robotic systems, as detailed in her 2014 paper. Through these contributions, Proserpio is helping to enable the next generation of X-ray observatories, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in high-energy astrophysics.