Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter

Simon R. Bandler; James A. Chervenak; Aaron M. Datesman; Archana M. Devasia; Michael J. DiPirro; Kazuhiro Sakai; Stephen J. Smith; Thomas R. Stevenson; Wonsik Yoon; Douglas A. Bennett; Benjamin Mates; Daniel S. Swetz; Joel N. Ullom; Kent D. Irwin; Megan E. Eckart; Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano; Dan McCammon; Kevin K. Ryu; Jeffrey R. Olson; Ben Zeiger

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.5.2.021017

31 May 2019 Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter

Simon R. Bandler, James A. Chervenak, Aaron M. Datesman, Archana M. Devasia, Michael J. DiPirro, Kazuhiro Sakai, Stephen J. Smith, Thomas R. Stevenson, Wonsik Yoon, Douglas A. Bennett, Benjamin Mates, Daniel S. Swetz, Joel N. Ullom, Kent D. Irwin, Megan E. Eckart, Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, Dan McCammon, Kevin K. Ryu, Jeffrey R. Olson, Ben Zeiger

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Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 5, Issue 2, 021017 (May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.5.2.021017

Abstract

Lynx is an x-ray telescope, one of four large satellite mission concepts currently being studied by NASA to be a flagship mission. One of Lynx’s three instruments is an imaging spectrometer called the Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter (LXM), an x-ray microcalorimeter behind an x-ray optic with an angular resolution of 0.5 arc sec and ∼2 m² of area at 1 keV. The LXM will provide unparalleled diagnostics of distant extended structures and, in particular, will allow the detailed study of the role of cosmic feedback in the evolution of the Universe. We discuss the baseline design of LXM and some parallel approaches for some of the key technologies. The baseline sensor technology uses transition-edge sensors, but we also consider an alternative approach using metallic magnetic calorimeters. We discuss the requirements for the instrument, the pixel layout, and the baseline readout design, which uses microwave superconducting quantum interference devices and high-electron mobility transistor amplifiers and the cryogenic cooling requirements and strategy for meeting these requirements. For each of these technologies, we discuss the current technology readiness level and our strategy for advancing them to be ready for flight. We also describe the current system design, including the block diagram, and our estimate for the mass, power, and data rate of the instrument.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Simon R. Bandler, James A. Chervenak, Aaron M. Datesman, Archana M. Devasia, Michael J. DiPirro, Kazuhiro Sakai, Stephen J. Smith, Thomas R. Stevenson, Wonsik Yoon, Douglas A. Bennett, Benjamin Mates, Daniel S. Swetz, Joel N. Ullom, Kent D. Irwin, Megan E. Eckart, Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, Dan McCammon, Kevin K. Ryu, Jeffrey R. Olson, and Ben Zeiger "Lynx x-ray microcalorimeter," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 5(2), 021017 (31 May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.5.2.021017

Received: 1 November 2018; Accepted: 26 April 2019; Published: 31 May 2019

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