Polarized X-ray sources for the 100m beamline calibration of the IXPE X-ray telescopes

Samantha A. Johnson; Wayne H. Baumgartner; Eric T. Bradley; Christina Moraitis; Brian D. Ramsey

doi:10.1117/12.2531126

9 September 2019 Polarized X-ray sources for the 100m beamline calibration of the IXPE X-ray telescopes

Samantha A. Johnson, Wayne H. Baumgartner, Eric T. Bradley, Christina Moraitis, Brian D. Ramsey

Proceedings Volume 11119, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX; 111191S (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2531126
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is an X-ray telescope mission currently being built at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). IXPE will measure polarized X-rays in the 2-8 keV range and will reveal new information about astrophysical sources that produce polarized X-rays such as pulsars, AGN, magnetars, and supernovae remnants. Telescope calibration at MSFC's Stray Light Test Facility 100-m beamline will require a bright, highly polarized X-ray source. The design of the IXPE polarized sources for end-to-end telescope calibration will allow for testing at three energies (Rh Lα₁ at 2.622 keV, Ti Kα₁ at 4.511 keV, and Fe Kα₁ at 6.404 keV). We present the design of the polarized sources and results based on laboratory operation.

Citation Download Citation

Samantha A. Johnson, Wayne H. Baumgartner, Eric T. Bradley, Christina Moraitis, and Brian D. Ramsey "Polarized X-ray sources for the 100m beamline calibration of the IXPE X-ray telescopes", Proc. SPIE 11119, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX, 111191S (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2531126

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