Development Of Silicon Drift Chambers For X-Ray Astronomy

Detectors for x-ray (1-10 keV) astronomy based on silicon drift chamber (SDC) devices offer significant advantages over some types of existing detector and the potential performance of such devices is summarised. Our development program is outlined together with a discussion of device designs which are being pursued. Results are presented from some recently acquired two-dimensional drift devices working at room temperature, and from some large area drift diodes working at low temperature.