Towards precision particle background estimation for future x-ray missions: correlated variability between Chandra ACIS and AMS

Catherine E. Grant; Eric D. Miller; Marshall W. Bautz; Richard Foster; Ralph P. Kraft; Steven Allen; David N. Burrows

doi:10.1117/12.2629520

31 August 2022 Towards precision particle background estimation for future x-ray missions: correlated variability between Chandra ACIS and AMS

Catherine E. Grant, Eric D. Miller, Marshall W. Bautz, Richard Foster, Ralph P. Kraft, Steven Allen, David N. Burrows

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12181, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 121812E (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629520
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract

A science goal of many future x-ray observatories is mapping the cosmic web through deep exposures of faint diffuse sources. Such observations require low background and the best possible knowledge of the remaining unrejected background. The dominant contribution to the background above 1-2 keV is from Galactic cosmic ray protons. Their flux and spectrum are modulated by the solar cycle but also by solar activity on shorter timescales. Understanding this variability may prove crucial to reducing background uncertainty for ESA’s Athena x-ray observatory and other missions with large collecting area. We examine the variability of the particle background as measured by ACIS on the Chandra x-ray observatory and compare that variability to that measured by the alpha magnetic spectrometer (AMS), a precision particle detector on the ISS. We show that cosmic ray proton variability measured by AMS is well matched to the ACIS background and can be used to estimate proton energies responsible for the background. We discuss how this can inform future missions.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Catherine E. Grant, Eric D. Miller, Marshall W. Bautz, Richard Foster, Ralph P. Kraft, Steven Allen, and David N. Burrows "Towards precision particle background estimation for future x-ray missions: correlated variability between Chandra ACIS and AMS", Proc. SPIE 12181, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 121812E (31 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629520

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