Back to Search
Start Over
Multiabsorber Transition-Edge Sensors for X-Ray Astronomy
- Source :
- Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments and Systems. 5(2)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2019.
-
Abstract
- We are developing arrays of position-sensitive microcalorimeters for future x-ray astronomy applications. These position-sensitive devices commonly referred to as hydras consist of multiple x-ray absorbers, each with a different thermal coupling to a single-transition-edge sensor microcalorimeter. Their development is motivated by a desire to achieve very large pixel arrays with some modest compromise in performance. We report on the design, optimization, and first results from devices with small pitch pixels (<75 μm) being developed for a high-angular and energy resolution imaging spectrometer for Lynx. The Lynx x-ray space telescope is a flagship mission concept under study for the National Academy of Science 2020 decadal survey. Broadband full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) resolution measurements on a 9-pixel hydra have demonstrated ΔE(FWHM) = 2.23 ± 0.14 eV at Al-Kα, ΔE(FWHM) = 2.44 ± 0.29 eV at Mn-Kα, and ΔE(FWHM) = 3.39 ± 0.23 eV at Cu-Kα. Position discrimination is demonstrated to energies below <1 keV and the device performance is well-described by a finite-element model. Results from a prototype 20-pixel hydra with absorbers on a 50-μm pitch have shown ΔE(FWHM) = 3.38 ± 0.20 eV at Cr-Kα1. We are now optimizing designs specifically for Lynx and extending the number of absorbers up to 25/hydra. Numerical simulation suggests optimized designs could achieve ∼3 eV while being compatible with the bandwidth requirements of the state-of-the art multiplexed readout schemes, thus making a 100,000 pixel microcalorimeter instrument a realistic goal.
- Subjects :
- Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- NASA Technical Reports
- Journal :
- Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments and Systems
- Notes :
- 80GSFC17M0002, , 80GSFC17C0003
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsnas.20190034096
- Document Type :
- Report
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.5.2.021008