The performance of the ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit

Philippe Peille; Roland den Hartog; Claudio Macculi; Marco Barbera; Simone Lotti; Edoardo Cucchetti; Christian Kirsch; Thomas Dauser; Joern Wilms; Simon R. Bandler; Stephen J. Smith; Brian Jackson; Hervé Geoffray; Jean-Michel Mesnager; François Pajot; Didier Barret; Thien Lam-Trong; Jan-Willem den Herder; Luigi Piro

doi:10.1117/12.2313720

6 July 2018 The performance of the ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit

Philippe Peille, Roland den Hartog, Claudio Macculi, Marco Barbera, Simone Lotti, Edoardo Cucchetti, Christian Kirsch, Thomas Dauser, Joern Wilms, Simon R. Bandler, Stephen J. Smith, Brian Jackson, Hervé Geoffray, Jean-Michel Mesnager, François Pajot, Didier Barret, Thien Lam-Trong, Jan-Willem den Herder, Luigi Piro

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 106994K (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313720
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) is a next generation microcalorimeter planned for launch onboard the Athena observatory. Operating a matrix of 3840 superconducting Transition Edge Sensors at 90 mK, it will provide unprecedented spectro-imaging capabilities (2.5 eV resolution, for a field of view of 5’) in the soft X-ray band (0.2 up to 12 keV), enabling breakthrough science. The definition of the instrument evolved along the phase A study and we present here an overview of its predicted performances and their modeling, illustrating how the design of the X-IFU meets its top-level scientific requirements. This article notably covers the energy resolution, count-rate capability, quantum efficiency and non X-ray background levels, highlighting their main drivers.

Citation Download Citation

Philippe Peille, Roland den Hartog, Claudio Macculi, Marco Barbera, Simone Lotti, Edoardo Cucchetti, Christian Kirsch, Thomas Dauser, Joern Wilms, Simon R. Bandler, Stephen J. Smith, Brian Jackson, Hervé Geoffray, Jean-Michel Mesnager, François Pajot, Didier Barret, Thien Lam-Trong, Jan-Willem den Herder, and Luigi Piro "The performance of the ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit", Proc. SPIE 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 106994K (6 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313720

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available