Laboratory x-ray CCD camera electronics: a test bed for the Swift X-Ray Telescope

Joanne E. Hill; Michael E. Zugger; Jason Shoemaker; Mark E. Witherite; Scott Koch; Lester Lisheng Chou; Traci Case; David N. Burrows

doi:10.1117/12.409162

13 December 2000 Laboratory x-ray CCD camera electronics: a test bed for the Swift X-Ray Telescope

Joanne E. Hill, Michael E. Zugger, Jason Shoemaker, Mark E. Witherite, Scott Koch, Lester Lisheng Chou, Traci Case, David N. Burrows

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4140, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XI; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.409162
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The Penn State University Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics has been active in the design of X-ray CCD cameras for astronomy for over two decades, including sounding rocket systems, the CUBIC instrument on the SAC-B satellite and the ACIS camera on the Chandra satellite. Currently the group is designing and building an X-ray telescope (XRT), which will comprise part of the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer satellite. The Swift satellite, selected in October 1999 as one of two winners of NASA Explorer contracts, will -- within one minute -- detect, locate, and observe gamma-ray bursts simultaneously in the optical, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma- ray wavelengths using three co-aligned telescopes. The XRT electronics is required to read out the telescope's CCD sensor in a number of different ways depending on the observing mode selected. Immediately after the satellite re-orients to observe a newly detected burst, the XRT will enter an imaging mode to determine the exact position of the burst. The location will then be transmitted to the ground, and the XRT will autonomously enter other modes as the X-ray intensity of the burst waxes and wanes. This paper will discuss the electronics for a laboratory X-ray CCD camera, which serves as a test bed for development of the Swift XRT camera. It will also touch upon the preliminary design of the flight camera, which is closely related. A major challenge is achieving performance and reliability goals within the cost constraints of an Explorer mission.

Citation Download Citation

Joanne E. Hill, Michael E. Zugger, Jason Shoemaker, Mark E. Witherite, Scott Koch, Lester Lisheng Chou, Traci Case, and David N. Burrows "Laboratory x-ray CCD camera electronics: a test bed for the Swift X-Ray Telescope", Proc. SPIE 4140, X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, (13 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.409162

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