6533b7dafe1ef96bd126ebe4
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The performance of the ATHENA X-ray Integral Field Unit
Simone LottiSimon R. BandlerJean-michel MesnagerClaudio MacculiJan-willem Den HerderRoland H. Den HartogHervé GeoffrayBrian JacksonStephen J. SmithThien Lam-trongPhilippe PeilleFrançois PajotChristian KirschLuigi PiroThomas DauserDidier BarretEdoardo CucchettiJoern WilmsMarco Barberasubject
Field (physics)X-ray Integral Fiel UnitPhase (waves)Field of viewCondensed Matter Physicmicrocalorimeter01 natural sciencesX-rayMatrix (mathematics)Settore FIS/05 - Astronomia E AstrofisicaObservatory0103 physical sciencesAthenaAerospace engineeringElectrical and Electronic Engineering010306 general physicsPhysics010308 nuclear & particles physicsbusiness.industryElectronic Optical and Magnetic MaterialResolution (electron density)Computer Science Applications1707 Computer Vision and Pattern RecognitionApplied MathematicQuantum efficiencybusinessEnergy (signal processing)performancedescription
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.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-06 |