The detector subsystem for the SXS instrument on the ASTRO-H Observatory

F. S. Porter; J. S. Adams; G. V. Brown; J. A. Chervenak; M. P. Chiao; R. Fujimoto; Y. Ishisaki; R. L. Kelley; C. A. Kilbourne; D. McCammon; K. Mitsuda; T. Ohashi; A. E. Szymkowiak; Y. Takei; M. Tashiro; N. Yamasaki

doi:10.1117/12.857888

9 August 2010 The detector subsystem for the SXS instrument on the ASTRO-H Observatory

F. S. Porter, J. S. Adams, G. V. Brown, J. A. Chervenak, M. P. Chiao, R. Fujimoto, Y. Ishisaki, R. L. Kelley, C. A. Kilbourne, D. McCammon, K. Mitsuda, T. Ohashi, A. E. Szymkowiak, Y. Takei, M. Tashiro, N. Yamasaki

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7732, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 77323J (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857888
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) instrument on the Astro-H observatory is based on a 36 pixel x-ray calorimeter array cooled to 50 mK in a sophisticated spaceflight cryostat. The SXS is a true spatial-spectral instrument, where each spatially discrete pixel functions as a high-resolution spectrometer. Here we discuss the SXS detector subsystem that includes the detector array, the anticoincidence detector, the first stage amplifiers, the thermal and mechanical staging of the detector, and the cryogenic bias electronics. The design of the SXS detector subsystem has significant heritage from the Suzaku/XRS instrument but has some important modifications that increase performance margins and simplify the focal plane assembly. Notable improvements include x-ray absorbers with significantly lower heat capacity, improved load resistors, improved thermometry, and a decreased sensitivity to thermal radiation. These modifications have yielded an energy resolution of 3.5-4.0 eV FWHM at 6 keV for representative devices in the laboratory, giving considerable margin against the 7 eV instrument requirement. We expect similar performance in flight.

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F. S. Porter, J. S. Adams, G. V. Brown, J. A. Chervenak, M. P. Chiao, R. Fujimoto, Y. Ishisaki, R. L. Kelley, C. A. Kilbourne, D. McCammon, K. Mitsuda, T. Ohashi, A. E. Szymkowiak, Y. Takei, M. Tashiro, and N. Yamasaki "The detector subsystem for the SXS instrument on the ASTRO-H Observatory", Proc. SPIE 7732, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 77323J (9 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857888

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