0000000000084811
AUTHOR
Luigi Piro
Thermal Filters for the ATHENA X-IFU: Ongoing Activities Toward the Conceptual Design
ATHENA is the L2 mission selected by ESA to pursue the science theme “Hot and Energetic Universe.” One of the two focal plane instruments is the X-ray Integral Field Unit, an array of TES microcalorimeters operated at T $$<$$ 100 mK. To allow the X-ray photons focused by the telescope to reach the detector, windows have to be opened on the cryostat thermal shields. X-ray transparent filters need to be mounted on these open windows to attenuate the IR radiation from warm surfaces, to attenuate RF electromagnetic interferences on TES sensors and SQUID electronics, and to protect the detector from contamination. This paper reviews the ongoing activities driving the design of the X-IFU thermal …
The mirror module design for the cryogenic x-ray imaging spectrometer on-board ORIGIN
ORIGIN is a medium size high-energy mission concept submitted to ESA in response to the Cosmic Vision call issued on July 2010. The mission will investigate the evolution of the Universe by performing soft X-ray high resolution spectroscopic measurements of metals formed in different astrophysical environments, from the first population III stars at z > 7 to the present large scale structures. The main instrument on-board ORIGIN will be a large format array of TES X-ray micro-calorimeters covering a FOV of 30' at the focal plane of a grazing incidence optical module with a focal length of 2.5 m and an angular resolution of 30'' HEW at 1 keV. We present the optical module design which is bas…
The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU)
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Study of Microcalorimeters for Astrophysics Applications
In the framework of the Italian Space Agency R&D project, which is focused on the development of microcalorimeters for applications on astrophysics, we are studying different methods for TES microcalorimeter production and developing simulations of various absorber performances. In this paper are presented preliminary results obtained with two different geometries: front back and planar on SiN membrane.
The performance of the ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit
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 …
Designing an x-ray baffle for stray-light reduction at the focal plane of the Wide Field Imager on board EDGE
We exploited a ray-tracing Montecarlo code to investigate the effects of stray-light on the performances of the Wide Field Imager (FoV = 1.5 deg) on board the EDGE satellite. We found non negligible stray-light contamination up to ~ 8 deg off-axis angles. We discuss the benefits of a baffle in order to reduce this contamination, that would strongly affect the telescope sensitivity, and present two possible baffle designs based on results of simulations.
The Cryogenic AntiCoincidence Detector Project for ATHENA+: An Overview Up to the Present Status
ATHENA+ is a space mission proposal for the next ESA L2-L3 slot. One of the focal plane instruments is the X-ray integral field unit (X-IFU) working in the energy range 0.3–10 keV. It is a multi-array based on TES detectors aimed at characterizing faint or diffuse sources (e.g. WHIM or galaxy outskirt). The X-IFU will be able to achieve the required sensitivity if a low background is guaranteed. The studies performed by GEANT4 simulations depict a scenario where the use of an active anticoincidence (AC) is mandatory to reduce the background expected in L2 orbit down to the goal level of 0.005 cts cm $$^{-2}$$ s $$^{-1}$$ keV $$^{-1}$$ . This is possible using a cryogenic anticoincidence (…
The x-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer onboard Athena
Trabajo presentado a la conferencia: "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray" celebrada en Amsterdam (Holanda) el 1 de julio de 2012.-- et al.
ATHENA X-IFU thermal filters development status toward the end of the instrument phase-A
Copyright 2018 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) is one of the two instruments of the Athena astrophysics space mission approved by ESA in the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Science Programme. The X-IFU consists of a large array of transition edge sensor micro-calorimeters that will operate at 100 mK inside a sophisticated cryostat. A set of thin filters, highly transparent to X-rays, will be m…
The TES-based cryogenic anticoincidence detector for IXO: First results from large area prototypes
The technique which combines high resolution spectroscopy with imaging capability is a powerful tool to extract fundamental information in X-ray Astrophysics and Cosmology. TES (Transition Edge Sensors)-based microcalorimeters match at best the requirements for doing fine spectroscopy and imaging of both bright (high count rate) and faint (poor signal-to-noise ratio) sources. For this reason they are considered among the most promising detectors for the next high energy space missions and are being developed for use on the focal plane of the IXO (International X-ray Observatory) mission. In order to achieve the required signal-to-noise ratio for faint or diffuse sources it is necessary to r…
The optical blocking filter for the ATHENA wide field imager: Ongoing activities towards the conceptual design
ATHENA is the L2 mission selected by ESA to pursue the science theme "Hot and Energetic Universe" (launch scheduled in 2028). One of the key instruments of ATHENA is the Wide Field Imager (WFI) which will provide imaging in the 0.1-15 keV band over a 40'x40' large field of view, together with spectrally and time-resolved photon counting. The WFI camera, based on arrays of DEPFET active pixel sensors, is also sensitive to UV/Vis photons. Optically generated electron-hole pairs may degrade the spectral resolution as well as change the energy scale by introducing a signal offset. For this reason, the use of an X-ray transparent optical blocking filter is needed to allow the observation of all …
The Cryogenic AntiCoincidence detector for ATHENA: the progress towards the final pixel design
“The Hot and Energetic Universe” is the scientific theme approved by the ESA SPC for a Large mission to be flown in the next ESA slot (2028th) timeframe. ATHENA is a space mission proposal tailored on this scientific theme. It will be the first X-ray mission able to perform the so-called “Integral field spectroscopy”, by coupling a high-resolution spectrometer, the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU), to a high performance optics so providing detailed images of its field of view (5’ in diameter) with an angular resolution of 5” and fine energy-spectra (2.5eV@E<7keV). The X-IFU is a kilo-pixel array based on TES (Transition Edge Sensor) microcalorimeters providing high resolution spectroscopy …
ORIGIN: metal creation and evolution from the cosmic dawn
Herder, Jan-Willem den et al.
Magnetic shielding of soft protons in future X-ray telescopes: the case of the ATHENA Wide Field Imager
Both the interplanetary space and the Earth magnetosphere are populated by low energy ($\leq300$ keV) protons that are potentially able to scatter on the reflecting surface of Wolter-I optics of X-ray focusing telescopes and reach the focal plane. This phenomenon, depending on the X-ray instrumentation, can dramatically increase the background level, reducing the sensitivity or, in the most extreme cases, compromising the observation itself. The use of a magnetic diverter, deflecting protons away from the field of view, requires a detailed characterization of their angular and energy distribution when exiting the mirror. We present the first end-to-end Geant4 simulation of proton scattering…
Baseline design of the thermal blocking filters for the X-IFU detector on board ATHENA
ATHENA is an advanced X-ray observatory designed by a large European consortium to address the science theme "Hot and Energetic Universe" recently selected by ESA for L2 – the second Large-class mission within the Cosmic Vision science program (launch scheduled in 2028). One of the key instruments of the mission is the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU), an array of Transition Edge Sensor (TES) micro-calorimeters with high energy resolution (2.5 eV @ 6 keV) in the energy range 0.2÷12 keV, operating at the focal plane of a large effective area high angular resolution (5" HEW) grazing incidence X-ray telescope. The X-IFU operates at temperatures below 100 mK and thus requires a sophisticated c…
The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit: a consolidated design for the system requirement review of the preliminary definition phase
The Athena X-ray Integral Unit (X-IFU) is the high resolution X-ray spectrometer, studied since 2015 for flying in the mid-30s on the Athena space X-ray Observatory, a versatile observatory designed to address the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme, selected in November 2013 by the Survey Science Committee. Based on a large format array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), it aims to provide spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (up to 7 keV) over an hexagonal field of view of 5 arc minutes (equivalent diameter). The X-IFU entered its System Requirement Review (SRR) in June 2022, at about the same time when ESA called for an overall X-IFU redesign (i…
The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) for Athena
Athena is designed to implement the Hot and Energetic Universe science theme selected by the European Space Agency for the second large mission of its Cosmic Vision program. The Athena science payload consists of a large aperture high angular resolution X-ray optics (2 m2 at 1 keV) and twelve meters away, two interchangeable focal plane instruments: the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) and the Wide Field Imager. The X-IFU is a cryogenic X-ray spectrometer, based on a large array of Transition Edge Sensors (TES), oering 2.5 eV spectral resolution, with approximately 5" pixels, over a field of view of 5' in diameter. In this paper, we present the X-IFU detector and readout electronics princi…
The THESEUS space mission concept: science case, design and expected performances
THESEUS is a space mission concept aimed at exploiting Gamma-Ray Bursts for investigating the early Universe and at providing a substantial advancement of multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics. These goals will be achieved through a unique combination of instruments allowing GRB and X-ray transient detection over a broad field of view (more than 1sr) with 0.5¿1 arcmin localization, an energy band extending from several MeV down to 0.3¿keV and high sensitivity to transient sources in the soft X-ray domain, as well as on-board prompt (few minutes) follow-up with a 0.7¿m class IR telescope with both imaging and spectroscopic capabilities. THESEUS will be perfectly suited for addressing …
The ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU)
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States.