Chapter 12: Critical Angle Transmission Grating Spectrometers

High resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy is a necessary method for many astrophysical investigations. The Critical Angle Transmission grating is a new technology that can provide very efficient spectrometers in the soft X-ray band with high resolving power. Here we discuss the astrophysical motivation, the operating principles, give overviews of fabrication and performance, and finally present a mission concept, including comparisons to existing astrophysical X-ray grating spectometers.