International X-ray Observatory Research Articles

High Energy Astrophysics and Fundamental Physics Missions in Japan

ISAS is the main branch institute of JAXA responsible for space science, conducting academic research by making the maximum use of its own scientific satellites, planetary probes, sounding rockets, and scientific balloons, and of collaborations with, and support from, other divisions/institutions of JAXA. By conducting observations not possible from the ground with the utilization of the space environment, we study the structure of the universe including the large-scale cosmological structure, nearby planetary systems, and the origin of universe. Currently we are concentrating on X-ray and Gamma-ray astronomy, infrared astronomy and radio astronomy. ASTRO-H is the largest international X-ray observatory which is currently under development, with launch scheduled for 2015. SPICA is being prepared as the next generation large and cooled infrared telescope. A number of working groups have been established to prepare missions with a vision towards the future.

Estimate of the impact of background particles on the X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer on IXO

We present the results of a study on the impact of particles of galactic (GCR) and solar origin for the X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) aboard an astronomical satellite flying in an orbit at the second Lagrangian point (L2). The detailed configuration presented in this paper is the one adopted for the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) study, however the derived estimates can be considered a conservative limit for ATHENA, that is the IXO redefined mission proposed to ESA. This work is aimed at the estimate of the residual background level expected on the focal plane detector during the mission lifetime, a crucial information in the development of any instrumental configuration that optimizes the XMS scientific performances. We used the Geant4 toolkit, a Monte Carlo based simulator, to investigate the rejection efficiency of the anticoincidence system and assess the residual background on the detector.

Kilopixel X-ray Microcalorimeter Arrays for Astrophysics: Device Performance and Uniformity

We are developing kilopixel arrays of TES microcalorimeters to enable high-resolution x-ray imaging spectrometers for future x-ray observatories and laboratory astrophysics experiments. Our current array design was targeted as a prototype for the X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer proposed for the International X-ray Observatory, which calls for a 40×40-pixel core array of 300 μm devices with 2.5 eV energy resolution (at 6 keV). Here we present device characterization of our 32×32 arrays, including x-ray spectral performance of individual pixels within the array. We present our results in light of the understanding that our Mo/Au TESs act as weak superconducting links, causing the TES critical current (I c ) and transition shape to oscillate with applied magnetic field (B). We show I c (B) measurements and discuss the uniformity of these measurements across the array, as well as implications regarding the uniformity of device noise and response. In addition, we are working to reduce pixel-to-pixel electrical and thermal crosstalk; we present recent test results from an array that has microstrip wiring and an angle-evaporated copper backside heatsinking layer, which provides copper coverage on the four sidewalls of the silicon wells beneath each pixel.

X-ray redshifts with the International X-ray Observatory (IXO)

We explore the capabilities of the future space science mission IXO (International X-ray Observatory) for obtaining cosmological redshifts of distant Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) using the X-ray data only. We first find in which regions of the X-ray luminosity ( L X ) versus redshift ( z) plane the weak but ubiquitous Fe K α narrow emission line can deliver an accurate redshift ( δz < 5%) as a function of exposure time, using a CCD-based Wide Field Imager (IXO/WFI) as the one baselined for IXO. Down to a 2–10 keV X-ray flux of 10 −14 erg cm −2 s −1 IXO/WFI exposures of 100 ks, 300 ks and 1 Ms will deliver 20%, 40% and 60% of the redshifts. This means that in a typical 18′ × 18′ IXO/WFI field of view, 4, 10 and 25 redshifts will be obtained for free from the X-ray data alone, spanning a wide range up to z ∼ 2–3 and fairly sampling the real distribution. Measuring redshifts of fainter sources will indeed need spectroscopy at other wavebands.

Frequency Domain Multiplexed Readout of TES Detector Arrays With Baseband Feedback

SRON is developing an electronic read-out system for an array of Transition-Edge Sensors (TES) which combines the techniques of Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) with Base-Band FeedBack (BBFB). Its potential astronomical applications are in the read-out of soft X-ray microcalorimeters of the XMS instrument on the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) and the far-IR bolometers of the SAFARI instrument on the Japanese-European mission SPICA. In this paper we focus on the experimental verification of the system, demonstrating for 16 pixels that simultaneous read-out does not degrade the noise performance, and that crosstalk between pixels is close to the requirements for IXO. A detailed analysis of the BBFB system is presented, identifying its limitations and routes for improvement to the levels required for implementation on both missions.

Development and Characterization of New 256$\,\times\,$256 Pixel DEPFET Detectors for X-Ray Astronomy

DEPFET detectors are silicon (Si) active pixel sensors designed and manufactured in the Max-Planck-Institut semiconductor lab. Their high spatial resolution and high energy resolution in X-rays make them attractive for particle tracking in colliders and for X-ray astronomy. This technology is foreseen for the Wide Field Imager of the International X-ray Observatory currently in study with ESA, NASA, and JAXA. New DEPFET matrixes with 256 × 256 pixels of 75-μm pitch have been produced, mounted on ceramic boards with dedicated front-end electronics and integrated in a new setup able to acquire large-format images and spectra. Excellent homogeneity has been observed. Energy resolution as low as 127 eV FWHM at 5.9 keV has been obtained including all single events of the matrix back illuminated at -45<;°C and read out at a 300-frames/s rate. This paper presents experimental methods and results.

AC Read-Out Circuits for Single Pixel Characterization of TES Microcalorimeters and Bolometers

SRON is developing Frequency Domain Multiplexing (FDM) for the read-out of transition edge sensor (TES) soft x-ray microcalorimeters for the XMS instrument of the International X-ray Observatory and far-infrared bolometers for the SAFARI instrument on the Japanese mission SPICA. In FDM the TESs are AC voltage biased at frequencies from 0.5 to 6 MHz in a superconducting LC resonant circuit and the signal is read-out by low noise and high dynamic range SQUIDs amplifiers. The TES works as an amplitude modulator. We report on several AC bias experiments performed on different detectors. In particular, we discuss the results on the characterization of Goddard Space Flight Center x-ray pixels and SRON bolometers. The paper focuses on the analysis of different read-out configurations developed to optimize the noise and the impedance matching between the detectors and the SQUID amplifier. A novel feedback network electronics has been developed to keep the SQUID in flux locked loop, when coupled to superconducting high Q circuits, and to optimally tune the resonant bias circuit. The achieved detector performances are discussed in view of the instrument requirement for the two space missions.

X-RAY SIGNATURES OF NON-EQUILIBRIUM IONIZATION EFFECTS IN GALAXY CLUSTER ACCRETION SHOCK REGIONS

The densities in the outer regions of clusters of galaxies are very low, and the collisional timescales are very long. As a result, heavy elements will be under-ionized after they have passed through the accretion shock. We have studied systematically the effects of non-equilibrium ionization for relaxed clusters in the LambdaCDM cosmology using one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. We found that non-equilibrium ionization effects do not depend on cluster mass but depend strongly on redshift which can be understood by self-similar scaling arguments. The effects are stronger for clusters at lower redshifts. We present X-ray signatures such as surface brightness profiles and emission lines in detail for a massive cluster at low redshift. In general, soft emission (0.3-1.0 keV) is enhanced significantly by under-ionization, and the enhancement can be nearly an order of magnitude near the shock radius. The most prominent non-equilibrium ionization signature we found is the O VII and O VIII line ratio. The ratios for non-equilibrium ionization and collisional ionization equilibrium models are different by more than an order of magnitude at radii beyond half of the shock radius. These non-equilibrium ionization signatures are equally strong for models with different non-adiabatic shock electron heating efficiencies. We have also calculated the detectability of the O VII and O VIII lines with the future International X-ray Observatory (IXO). Depending on the line ratio measured, we conclude that an exposure of ~130-380 ksec on a moderate-redshift, massive regular cluster with the X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) on the IXO will be sufficient to provide a strong test for the non-equilibrium ionization model.

Czech Participation in International X-Ray Observatory (IXO)

Here we describe the recent status of Czech participation in the IXO (International X-ray Observatory) space mission, with emphasis on the development of new technologies and test samples of X-ray mirrors with precise surfaces, based on new materials, and their applications in space. In addition, alternative X-ray optical arrangements are investigated, such as Kirkpatrick-Baez systems.

DynamiX, numerical tool for design of next-generation x-ray telescopes

We present a new code aimed at the simulation of grazing-incidence x-ray telescopes subject to deformations and demonstrate its ability with two test cases: the Simbol-X and the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) missions. The code, based on Monte Carlo ray tracing, computes the full photon trajectories up to the detector plane, accounting for the x-ray interactions and for the telescope motion and deformation. The simulation produces images and spectra for any telescope configuration using Wolter I mirrors and semiconductor detectors. This numerical tool allows us to study the telescope performance in terms of angular resolution, effective area, and detector efficiency, accounting for the telescope behavior. We have implemented an image reconstruction method based on the measurement of the detector drifts by an optical sensor metrology. Using an accurate metrology, this method allows us to recover the loss of angular resolution induced by the telescope instability. In the framework of the Simbol-X mission, this code was used to study the impacts of the parameters on the telescope performance. In this paper we present detailed performance analysis of Simbol-X, taking into account the satellite motions and the image reconstruction. To illustrate the versatility of the code, we present an additional performance analysis with a particular configuration of IXO.

Multitone harmonic-balance simulations of an x-ray transition-edge sensor characterized at BESSY II

We present multitone harmonic-balance (MTHB) simulations of a Ti–Au x-ray transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter in a 5×5 pixel spectrometer array. The dynamic response of the TES microcalorimeter under simulation has been extremely well characterized at the BESSY II Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Berlin. We compare our simulated results directly with these measurements, and show that the MTHB algorithm is able to simulate to great accuracy the dynamic behavior of the TES, even when saturated by 6 keV photons. In this paper, we provide a detailed account of the MTHB simulations, and discuss the impact of this work on future missions such as the International X-ray Observatory.

The Wide Field Imager of the International X-ray Observatory

The International X-ray Observatory (IXO) will be a joint X-ray observatory mission by ESA, NASA and JAXA. It will have a large effective area (3 m 2 at 1.25 keV) grazing incidence mirror system with good angular resolution (5 arcsec at 0.1–10 keV) and will feature a comprehensive suite of scientific instruments: an X-ray Microcalorimeter Spectrometer, a High Time Resolution Spectrometer, an X-ray Polarimeter, an X-ray Grating Spectrometer, a Hard X-ray Imager and a Wide-Field Imager. The Wide Field Imager (WFI) has a field-of-view of 18 ft×18 ft. It will be sensitive between 0.1 and 15 keV, offer the full angular resolution of the mirrors and good energy resolution. The WFI will be implemented as a 6 in. wafer-scale monolithical array of 1024×1024 pixels of 100 × 100 μ m 2 size. The DEpleted P-channel Field-Effect Transistors (DEPFET) forming the individual pixels are devices combining the functionalities of both detector and amplifier. Signal electrons are collected in a potential well below the transistor's gate, modulating the transistor current. Even when the device is powered off, the signal charge is collected and kept in the potential well below the gate until it is explicitly cleared. This makes flexible and fast readout modes possible.

Thin Shell, Segmented X-Ray Mirrors

Thin foil mirrors were introduced as a means of achieving high throughput in an X-ray astronomical imaging system in applications for which high angular resolution was not necessary. Since their introduction, their high filling factor, modest mass, relative ease of construction, and modest cost have led to their use in numerous X-ray observatories, including the Broad Band X-ray Telescope, ASCA, and Suzaku. The introduction of key innovations, including epoxy replicated surfaces, multilayer coatings, and glass mirror substrates, has led to performance improvements and in their becoming widely used for X-ray astronomical imaging at energies above 10 keV. The use of glass substrates has also led to substantial improvement in angular resolution and thus their incorporation into the NASA concept for the International X-ray Observatory with a planned 3 m diameter aperture. This paper traces the development of foil mirrors from their inception in the 1970s through their current and anticipated future applications.

PROSPECTS OF HIGH-RESOLUTION X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY FOR ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FEEDBACK IN GALAXY CLUSTERS

One of the legacies of the Chandra era is the discovery of active galactic nucleus (AGN) inflated X-ray cavities in virtually all cool-core clusters, with mechanical luminosities comparable to or larger than the cluster cooling rate, suggesting that AGN might be responsible for heating clusters. This discovery poses a new set of questions that cannot be addressed by X-ray imaging or modeling alone: are AGNs actually responsible for halting cooling flows? How is the AGN energy transferred to heat? How tight is the observed balance between heating and cooling? One of the critical unanswered questions currently posed is the actual expansion velocity of these cavities, which cannot be measured from imaging alone. This uncertainty propagates into the calculation of the jet power required to inflate the cavities and affects all arguments of feedback power. Using numerical simulations of jet-driven cavities in fully dynamically evolved clusters and a new virtual X-ray observatory tool, we demonstrate that high-resolution, high-throughput X-ray spectroscopy will be able to answer this question and that the International X-ray Observatory will have the necessary capabilities to deliver the necessary measurements. We also discuss the evolution of the turbulent velocity distribution of the cluster in response to the action of radio galaxies and how it might be used as a probe in studying feedback.

Reconstructing the neutron-star equation of state from astrophysical measurements

The properties of matter at ultra-high densities, low temperatures, and with a significant asymmetry between protons and neutrons can be studied exclusively through astrophysical observations of neutron stars. We show that measurements of the masses and radii of neutron stars can lead to tight constraints on the pressure of matter at three fiducial densities, from 1.85 to 7.4 times the density of nuclear saturation, in a manner that is largely model-independent and that captures the key characteristics of the equation of state. We demonstrate that observations with 10% uncertainties of at least three neutron stars can lead to measurements of the pressure at these fiducial densities with an accuracy of 0.11 dex or ~ 30%. Observations of three neutron stars with 5% uncertainties are sufficient to distinguish at a better than 3-sigma confidence level between currently proposed equations of state. In the electromagnetic spectrum, such accurate measurements will become possible for weakly-magnetic neutron stars during thermonuclear flashes and in quiescence with future missions such as the International X-ray Observatory (IXO).

CONDENSED MATTER ASTROPHYSICS: A PRESCRIPTION FOR DETERMINING THE SPECIES-SPECIFIC COMPOSITION AND QUANTITY OF INTERSTELLAR DUST USING X-RAYS

We present a new technique for determining the quantity and composition of dust in astrophysical environments using <6 keV X-rays. We argue that high-resolution X-ray spectra as enabled by the Chandra and XMM-Newton gratings should be considered a powerful and viable new resource for delving into a relatively unexplored regime for directly determining dust properties: composition, quantity, and distribution. We present initial cross section measurements of astrophysically likely iron-based dust candidates taken at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Advanced Light Source synchrotron beamline, as an illustrative tool for the formulation of our technique for determining the quantity and composition of interstellar dust with X-rays. (Cross sections for the materials presented here will be made available for astrophysical modeling in the near future.) Focused at the 700 eV Fe L III and L II photoelectric edges, we discuss a technique for modeling dust properties in the soft X-rays using L-edge data to complement K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure analysis techniques discussed by Lee & Ravel. The paper is intended to be a techniques paper of interest and useful to both condensed matter experimentalists and astrophysicists. For the experimentalists, we offer a new prescription for normalizing relatively low signal-to-noise ratio L-edge cross section measurements. For astrophysics interests, we discuss the use of X-ray absorption spectra for determining dust composition in cold and ionized astrophysical environments and a new method for determining species-specific gas and dust ratios. Possible astrophysical applications of interest, including relevance to Sagittarius A*, are offered. Prospects for improving on this work in future X-ray missions with higher throughput and spectral resolution are also presented in the context of spectral resolution goals for gratings and calorimeters, for proposed and planned missions such as Astro-H and the International X-ray Observatory.

Thermal Considerations for Meeting 20°C and Stringent Temperature Gradient Requirements of IXO SXT Mirror Modules

The Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT) is an instrument on the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO). Its flight mirror assembly (FMA) has a single mirror configuration that includes a 3.3 m diameter and 0.93 m tall mirror assembly. It consists of 24 outer modules, 24 middle modules and 12 inner modules. Each module includes more than 200 mirror segments. There are a total of nearly 14,000 mirror segments. The operating temperature requirement of the SXT FMA is 20 C. The spatial temperature gradient requirement between the FMA modules is 1 C or smaller. The spatial temperature gradient requirement within a module is 0.5 C. This paper presents thermal design considerations to meet these stringent thermal requirements.

Development of Position-Sensitive Transition-Edge Sensor X-Ray Detectors

We report on the development of position-sensitive transition-edge sensors (PoST's) for future X-ray astronomy missions such as the International X-ray Observatory (IXO), under study by NASA and ESA. PoST's consist of multiple absorbers each with a different thermal coupling to one or more transition-edge sensors (TESs). This results in a characteristic pulse shape for each absorber element and allows position discrimination. PoST development is motivated by a desire to achieve maximum focal-plane area with the fewest number of readout channels. We report detailed characterization of our single TES PoST's or Hydras, which consist of four electroplated Au/Bi absorbers coupled to a low noise Mo/Au TES. Using a numerical model of the Hydra we fit to measured complex impedance curves and determine device parameters that allow us to accurately reproduce the measured pulse shapes and noise spectra. Results from Hydras with different internal thermal conductances reveal the trade-offs in optimizing for energy resolution or position-sensitivity. We report a best achievable energy resolution of < 6.0 eV across all pixels for a device with transition temperature of 86 mK, coupled with straightforward position discrimination by rise-time.

TiAu-based micro-calorimeters for space applications

We present the latest results of the performance of micro-calorimeters based on transition edge sensors (TESs) for space applications. Sensors based on TiAu superconductive layers with Cu/Bi absorbers are discussed and have been characterized. Different coupling schemes between absorber and TES have been tested leading to an optimal (preferred) design for a new batch of arrays. We discuss the progress on array development for the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) in terms of pixel uniformity and filling factor. Inter-pixel cross-talk is discussed as well.