Testing the X-IFU calibration requirements: an example for quantum efficiency and energy resolution

Edoardo Cucchetti; François Pajot; Etienne Pointecouteau; Philippe Peille; Gabriele Betancourt-Martinez; Stephen J. Smith; Marco Barbera; Megan E. Eckart; Simon R. Bandler; Caroline A. Kilbourne; Massimo Cappi; Didier Barret

doi:10.1117/12.2312188

6 July 2018 Testing the X-IFU calibration requirements: an example for quantum efficiency and energy resolution

Edoardo Cucchetti, François Pajot, Etienne Pointecouteau, Philippe Peille, Gabriele Betancourt-Martinez, Stephen J. Smith, Marco Barbera, Megan E. Eckart, Simon R. Bandler, Caroline A. Kilbourne, Massimo Cappi, Didier Barret

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 106994O (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312188
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

With its array of 3840 Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) operated at 90 mK, the X-Ray Integral Field Unit (XIFU) on board the ESA L2 mission Athena will provide spatially resolved high-resolution spectroscopy (2.5 eV FWHM up to 7 keV) over the 0.2 to 12 keV bandpass. The in-flight performance of the X-IFU will be strongly affected by the calibration of the instrument. Uncertainties in the knowledge of the overall system, from the filter transmission to the energy scale, may introduce systematic errors in the data, which could potentially compromise science objectives – notably those involving line characterisation e.g. turbulence velocity measurements – if not properly accounted for. Defining and validating calibration requirements is therefore of paramount importance. In this paper, we put forward a simulation tool based on the most up-to-date configurations of the various subsystems (e.g. filters, detector absorbers) which allows us to estimate systematic errors related to uncertainties in the instrumental response. Notably, the effect of uncertainties in the energy resolution and of the instrumental quantum efficiency on X-IFU observations is assessed, by taking as a test case the measurements of the iron K complex in the hot gas surrounding clusters of galaxies. In-flight and ground calibration of the energy resolution and the quantum efficiency is also addressed. We demonstrate that provided an accurate calibration of the instrument, such effects should be low in both cases with respect to statistics during observations.

Citation Download Citation

Edoardo Cucchetti, François Pajot, Etienne Pointecouteau, Philippe Peille, Gabriele Betancourt-Martinez, Stephen J. Smith, Marco Barbera, Megan E. Eckart, Simon R. Bandler, Caroline A. Kilbourne, Massimo Cappi, and Didier Barret "Testing the X-IFU calibration requirements: an example for quantum efficiency and energy resolution", Proc. SPIE 10699, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 106994O (6 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312188

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available