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Since the TF operate at different temperatures in the range 0.05-300 K, it is relevant to study how temperature affects their mechanical/optical performances (e.g. near edge absorption fine structures of the atomic elements in the filter material). Such results are crucial for the proper design of the filters as well as to establish the calibration program operating temperatures.
We report the preliminary results of visual inspections performed on test filters of polyimide/Al at different pressure and temperature conditions, IR transmission measurements (1-15 μm) performed in the temperature range 10- 300 K, and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy measurements (175-1650 eV) performed in the temperature range 130-300 K.
The X-IFU operates at temperatures below 100 mK and thus requires a sophisticated cryostat. In order to allow the beam focused by the telescope to reach the X-IFU detector, windows need to be opened on the cryostat thermal and structural shields surrounding the cold stage. X-ray transparent thermal blocking filters need to be mounted on such open windows to make the radiation heat-load onto the detector array negligible with respect to conduction heat load and dissipated electrical power, and to minimize photon shot noise onto the detector. After a brief survey of the heritage from space satellite and sounding rocket experiments on thermal filters operated at cryogenic temperatures, we present the selected baseline design of the thermal filters for the ATHENA X-IFU detector, show the performances, and finally discuss possible improvements in the design to increase the X-IFU quantum efficiency at low energies.
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