Managing radiation degradation of CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory II

Stephen L. O'Dell; Thomas L. Aldcroft; Bradley A. Bissell; William C. Blackwell; Robert A. Cameron; Jon H. Chappell; Joseph M. DePasquale; Kenneth R. Gage; Catherine E. Grant; Christine F. Harbison; Michael Juda; Kevin A. Marsh; Eric R. Martin; Joseph I. Minow; Stephen S. Murray; Paul P. Plucinsky; Daniel A. Schwartz; Daniel P. Shropshire; Bradley J. Spitzbart; Shanil N. Virani; Brent S. Williams; Scott J. Wolk

doi:10.1117/12.619442

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18 August 2005 Managing radiation degradation of CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory II

Stephen L. O'Dell, Thomas L. Aldcroft, Bradley A. Bissell, William C. Blackwell, Robert A. Cameron, Jon H. Chappell, Joseph M. DePasquale, Kenneth R. Gage, Catherine E. Grant, Christine F. Harbison, Michael Juda, Kevin A. Marsh, Eric R. Martin, Joseph I. Minow, Stephen S. Murray, Paul P. Plucinsky, Daniel A. Schwartz, Daniel P. Shropshire, Bradley J. Spitzbart, Shanil N. Virani, Brent S. Williams, Scott J. Wolk

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Proceedings Volume 5898, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV; 58980R (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.619442
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory are vulnerable to radiation damage from low-energy protons scattered off the telescope's mirrors onto the focal plane. Following unexpected damage incurred early in the mission, the Chandra team developed, implemented, and maintains a radiation-protection program. This program - involving scheduled radiation safing during radiation-belt passes, intervention based upon real-time space-weather conditions and radiation-environment modeling, and on-board radiation monitoring with autonomous radiation safing - has successfully managed the radiation damage to the CCDs. Since implementing the program, the charge-transfer inefficiency (CTI) has increased at an average annual rate of only 3.2×10-6 (2.3%) for the front-illuminated CCDs and 1.0×10-6 (6.7%) for the back-illuminated CCDs. This paper describes the current status of the Chandra radiation-management program, emphasizing enhancements implemented since the original paper.

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Stephen L. O'Dell, Thomas L. Aldcroft, Bradley A. Bissell, William C. Blackwell, Robert A. Cameron, Jon H. Chappell, Joseph M. DePasquale, Kenneth R. Gage, Catherine E. Grant, Christine F. Harbison, Michael Juda, Kevin A. Marsh, Eric R. Martin, Joseph I. Minow, Stephen S. Murray, Paul P. Plucinsky, Daniel A. Schwartz, Daniel P. Shropshire, Bradley J. Spitzbart, Shanil N. Virani, Brent S. Williams, and Scott J. Wolk "Managing radiation degradation of CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory II", Proc. SPIE 5898, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV, 58980R (18 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.619442

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