Microcalorimeter/EBIT measurements of X-ray spectra of highly charged ions

2001

Spectra of highly charged Ar, Kr, Xe and Fe ions, produced in an Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT), have been recorded in a broad X-ray energy band (0.2 keV to 10 keV) with a microcalorimeter detector. The first analysis of the Kr spectra has been completed and most of the spectral lines have been identified as transitions of B- to Al-like Kr. Line intensity ratios of Fe XVII have been measured and compared with theoretical models.

New chemiometric technique applied to traceability of Sicilian honey of Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.)

The consumers have an increasing interest about food traceability with respect to safety, quality and typicality issues. Food traceability is an important issue in food safety and quality control, with impacts on food security, its quantity and overall availability. Furthermore, the possibility of tracing the origin of foodstuff is assuming an increasingly important role at the legislative level, as a tool that may allow to prove on product authenticity and to control adulteration. So, establish systems to trace food products through specified stages of production, processing and distribution play a key role also to ensure food safety. In the last years, several of analytical techniques hav…

Development of a TES based Cryo-Anticoincidence for a large array of microcalorimeters

2009

The employment of large arrays of microcalorimeters in space missions (IXO, EDGE/XENIA)[1][2][3], requires the presence of an anticoincidence detector to remove the background due to the particles, with a rejection efficiency at least equal to Suzaku (98%) [1]. A new concept of anticoincidence is under development to match the very tight thermal requirements and to simplify the design of the electronic chain. The idea is to produce a Cryo-AntiCoincidence (Cryo-AC) based on a silicon absorber and read by a TES (Transition-Edge Sensor). This configuration would ensure very good performances in terms of efficiency, time response and signal to noise ratio. We present the results of estimations,…

X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy with NTD germanium-based microcalorimeters

2002

We report on the performance of our NTD-Ge microcalorimeters. To date, the spectral resolution for x-ray and gamma-ray lines from radioactive sources and laboratory plasmas is 4.8 eV in the entire 1 - 6 keV band and 52 eV at 60 keV. Technical details responsible for this performance are presented as well as an innovative electro-thermal approach for enhancing count-rate capability.

Light weight, thin plastic foil, X-ray telescopes

2002

We present results from a program to develop an X-ray telescope made from thin plastic shells. Our initial results have been obtained from multi-shell cylindrical lenses that are used in a point-to-point configuration to image the small focal spot of a an X-ray tube on a microchannel plate detector. We describe the steps that led up to the present design and present data from the tests that have been used to identify the properties of the plastic material that make it a suitable X-ray reflector. We discuss two applications of our technology to X-ray missions that are designed to address some of the scientific priorities set forth in NASA's long term plans for high energy astrophysics. One m…

A microcalorimeter spectrometer for the investigation of laboratory plasmas

2002

We describe a cryostat and 2-stage ADR specifically designed for making measurements at the NIST EBIT (Electron Beam Ion Trap) facility. The design is compact and consists of a single helium bath with two vapor-cooled shields. The 2-stage ADR has two separate magnets and two heat switches. The interface between the EBIT and microcalorimeter array will also be described.

Analysis of broadband x-ray spectra of highly charged krypton from a microcalorimeter detector of an electron-beam ion trap

2001

Spectra of highly charged Kr ions, produced in an electron-beam ion trap (EBIT), have been recorded in a broad x-ray energy band (0.3 keV to 4 keV) with a microcalorimeter detector. Most of the spectral lines have been identified as transitions of B- to Al-like Kr. The transition energies have been determined with 0.2% uncertainty. A semi-empirical EBIT plasma model has been created to calculate a synthetic spectrum of highly charged Kr and to determine a charge state distribution of Kr ions inside the EBIT.

Planar Technology for NDT-Ge X-Ray Microcalorimeters: Absorber Fabrication

2009

We have investigated the electroplating process to deposit thick uniform films of tin on a Ge wafer coated with Spin‐On Glass, in order to fabricate the absorbers for Ge microcalorimeter arrays. Here we discuss some technological details and propose two alternative metal bilayer to be used as seed for the electroplating.

The constellation-X focal plane microcalorimeter array: An NTD-germanium solution

2002

The hallmarks of Neutron Transmutation Doped (NTD) germanium cryogenic thermistors include high reliability, reproducibility, and long term stability of bulk carrier transport properties. Using micro-machined NTD Ge thermistors with integral “flying” leads, we can now fabricate two-dimensional arrays that are built up from a series of stacked linear arrays. We believe that this modular approach of building, assembling, and perhaps replacing individual modules of detectors is essential to the successful fabrication and testing of large multi-element spectrometers. Details of construction are presented.

Preliminary studies of geochemical tools to traceability of Sicilian honey

2019

Today is increasing the attention of consumers for the origin of food and high reputation of products with a distinct geographical identity. Food traceability is an important issue in food safety and quality control, with impacts on food security, its quantity and overall availability. Furthermore, the possibility of tracing the origin of foodstuff is assuming an increasingly important role at the legislative level, as a tool that may allow to prove on product authenticity and to control adulteration So, establish systems to trace food or feed products through specified stages of production, processing and distribution play a key role also to ensure food safety. For these reason, in the las…

High Energy, High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy: Microcalorimeters For Nuclear Line Astrophysics

2005

We introduce focusing optics and microcalorimeter spectroscopy to nuclear line emission astrophysics with a balloon payload concept called, B‐MINE. It is designed to probe the deepest regions of a supernova explosion by detecting 44Ti emission at 68 keV with spatial and spectral resolutions that are sufficient to determine the velocity distribution of the 44Ti emitting region. B‐MINE has a thin plastic foil telescope multilayered to maximize the reflectivity in a 20 keV band centered at 68 keV and a microcalorimeter array optimized for the same energy band. This combination provides a reduced background, an energy resolution of 50 eV and a 3σ sensitivity in 106 s of 6 × 10−8 ph cm−2 s−1 at …

Background Rejection of Charged Particles in the Simbol-X Telescope: Preliminary Study of Protons Scattering

2009

X-ray telescopes equipped with focusing optics in high eccentric orbit, as e.g. Newton-XMM and Chandra, showed a degradation of the detector performance and an important increase of the noise due to soft protons with energy between a few tens of keV and a few MeV, that are focused on the detector through the mirror module. It should be noted that the focusing of the protons by Wolter optics was an unexpected phenomenon. In Simbol-X a magnetic diverter will be implemented to deflect protons, in order to reduce the flux of charged particles impinging upon the focal plane. Obviously the design of the diverter should take into consideration the protons distribution at the exit of the mirror mod…

Simbol-X Mirror Module Thermal Shields: II-Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Measurements

2009

The formation flight configuration of the Simbol-X mission implies that the X-ray mirror module will be open to Space on both ends. In order to reduce the power required to maintain the thermal stability and, therefore, the high angular resolution of the shell optics, a thin foil thermal shield will cover the mirror module. Different options are presently being studied for the foil material of these shields. We report results of an experimental investigation conducted to verify that the scattering of X-rays, by interaction with the thin foil material of the thermal shield, will not significantly affect the performances of the telescope.

Simbol-X Mirror Module Thermal Shields: I-Design and X-Ray Transmission

2009

The Simbol‐X mission is designed to fly in formation flight configuration. As a consequence, the telescope has both ends open to space, and thermal shielding at telescope entrance and exit is required to maintain temperature uniformity throughout the mirrors. Both mesh and meshless solutions are presently under study for the shields. We discuss the design and the X‐ray transmission.

Laboratory astrophysics and microanalysis with NTD-germanium-based X-ray microcalorimeters

2000

With the ability to create cosmic plasma conditions in the laboratory it is possible to investigate the dependencies of key diagnostic X-ray lines on density, temperature, and excitation conditions that exist in astrophysical sources with X-ray optics and a high-resolution X-ray microcalorimeter. The same instrumentation can be coupled to scanning electron microscopes or X-ray fluorescence probes to analyze the elemental and chemical composition of electronic, biological, geological and particulate materials. We describe how our microcalorimeter and X-ray optics provide significantly improved capabilities for laboratory astrophysics and microanalysis.

Analysis of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in lung transplantation: correlation with nitric oxide administration.

2008

Introduction and Objectives. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) following lung transplantation (LT) is associated with an activation of the inflammatory cascade and release of cytokines. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) provides specific pulmonary vasodilatation and improves oxygenation. Our objective was to verify whether administering iNO to LT patients modified the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 levels in the event of PGD. Materials and Methods. Thirty-two LT patients were randomized to the iNO treatment or the control group. Patients in the first group were given 10 ppm of iNO from the start of LT until 48 hours afterward. BAL and peripheral arterial blood sampl…

Experimental evidence of an incomplete thermalization of the energy in an x-ray microcalorimeter with a TaAu absorber.

2008

We have conducted an experimental test at our XACT facility using an x-ray microcalorimeter with Ta∕Au absorber and neutron transmutation doped germanium thermal sensor. The test was aimed at measuring the percentage of energy effectively thermalized after absorption of x-ray photons in superconducting tantalum. Moreover, in general, possible formation of long living quasiparticles implies that by using a superconducting absorber, a fraction of the deposited energy could not be thermalized on the useful time scale of the thermal sensor. To investigate this scenario, we exploited an absorber made of gold, where no energy trapping is expected, with a small piece of superconducting tantalum at…

Hinode/XRT Diagnostics of Loop Thermal Structure

2008

We investigate possible diagnostics of the thermal structure of coronal loops from Hinode/XRT observations made with several filters. We consider the observation of an active region with five filters. We study various possible combinations of filter data to optimize for sensitivity to thermal structure and for signal enhancement.

The Large Observatory for X-ray Timing (LOFT)

2012

High-time-resolution X-ray observations of compact objects provide direct access to strong-field gravity, to the equation of state of ultra-dense matter and to black hole masses and spins. A 10 m^2-class instrument in combination with good spectral resolution is required to exploit the relevant diagnostics and answer two of the fundamental questions of the European Space Agency (ESA) Cosmic Vision Theme "Matter under extreme conditions", namely: does matter orbiting close to the event horizon follow the predictions of general relativity? What is the equation of state of matter in neutron stars? The Large Observatory For X-ray Timing (LOFT), selected by ESA as one of the four Cosmic Vision M…

The NHXM observatory

2011

Exploration of the X-ray sky has established X-ray astronomy as a fundamental astrophysical discipline. While our knowledge of the sky below 10 keV has increased dramatically (∼8 orders of magnitude) by use of grazing incidence optics, we still await a similar improvement above 10 keV, where to date only collimated instruments have been used. Also ripe for exploration is the field of X-ray polarimetry, an unused fundamental tool to understand the physics and morphology of X-ray sources. Here we present a novel mission, the New Hard X-ray Mission (NHXM) that brings together for the first time simultaneous high-sensitivity, hard-X-ray imaging, broadband spectroscopy and polarimetry. NHXM will…

The OAPA/DPSFA: solar physics, instrumental expertise, and the XACT facility

2001

The potential contribution to Solar Orbiter hardware, calibration and testing from the Palermo group (Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo G.S. Vaiana + Sezione di Astronomia del Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche (DpSFA), Università di Palermo) will be mostly based on the XACT facility and the related expertise. The X-ray Astronomy Calibration and Testing (XACT) facility of Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo "G.S. Vaiana" (OAPA) includes vacuum systems, sources, monochromators, detectors, mechanical manipulators, clean room, etc. that permits us to perform measurements in the spectrum ranging from visible light to soft X-rays (0.001 - 10 keV). The facility is currently used in…

ORIGIN: metal creation and evolution from the cosmic dawn

2012

Herder, Jan-Willem den et al.

XRASE: the X-ray spectroscopic explorer

2001

The X-Ray Spectroscopic Explorer (XRASE) has a unique combination of features that will make it possible to address many of NASA's scientific goals. These include how galaxy clusters form, the physics and chemistry of the ISM, the heating of stellar coronae, the amount and content of intergalactic baryonic matter, the mass of black holes and the formation of disks and jets in AGN and galactic binaries. XRASE has a thin foil, multilayered telescope with a large collecting area up to 10 keV, especially in the Fe Kα region (1100 cm2). Its microcalorimeter array combines high energy resolution (7 eV at 6 keV) and efficiency with a field-of-view of 26 arcmin2. A deep orbit allows for long, conti…

The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU)

2018

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