X-ray Imaging Telescope Research Articles

SRG/ART-XC Galactic Bulge deep survey. I. Maximum likelihood source detection algorithm for X-ray surveys

ABSTRACT We describe an X-ray source detection method entirely based on the maximum likelihood analysis, in application to observations with the ART-XC telescope onboard the Spectrum Roentgen Gamma observatory. The method optimally combines the data taken at different conditions, a situation commonly found in scanning surveys or mosaic observations with a telescope with a significant off-axis PSF distortion. The method can be naturally extended to include additional information from the X-ray photon energies, detector grades, etc. The likelihood-based source detection naturally results in an optimal use of available information for the sources detection and stable and uniform definition of detection thresholds under different observing conditions (PSF, background level). This greatly simplifies the statistical calibration of the survey needed to, e.g. obtain the $\log N - \log S$ distribution of detected sources or their luminosity function. The method can be applied to the data from any imaging X-ray telescope.

Design and assembly of a nested imaging X-ray telescope for the Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor mission

Design and assembly of a nested imaging X-ray telescope for the Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor mission

AstroSat detection of a quasi-periodic oscillation at ∼42 Hz in Cygnus X-2

ABSTRACT We report the results of AstroSat observations of Cygnus X-2 during 2016 February. The source’s power density spectrum generated using Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) data revealed the presence of a prominent quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) at ∼42 Hz with broad-band continuum noise at lower frequencies at ∼10 Hz. The large effective area of LAXPC at ≳30 keV allowed for an unprecedented study of the energy dependence of the QPO and the broad noise continuum. The fractional rms increases with energy, and its shape is similar for both the QPO and the continuum noise, suggesting a common radiative origin. However, while the QPO exhibits hard time-lags, with the high-energy photons lagging the low ones by a few milliseconds, the continuum noise shows the opposite behaviour. The photon spectrum from Soft X-ray Imaging Telescope and LAXPC in 0.7–30 keV band comprises the soft component from a disc and a hard Comptonized component from a hot corona. While the energy dependence of the rms shows that the QPO and the continuum noise variability are dominated by the Comptonized component, the change in sign of the time-lag suggests that the dynamic origin of the QPO may be in the disc while the noise continuum may originate from the corona.

Experimental studies on the charge transfer inefficiency of CCD developed for the soft X-ray imaging telescope Xtend aboard the XRISM satellite

We present experimental studies on the charge transfer inefficiency (CTI) of charge-coupled device (CCD) developed for the soft X-ray imaging telescope, Xtend, aboard the XRISM satellite. The CCD is equipped with a charge injection (CI) capability, in which sacrificial charge is periodically injected to fill the charge traps. By evaluating the re-emission of the trapped charge observed behind the CI rows, we find that there are at least three trap populations with different time constants. The traps with the shortest time constant, which is equivalent to a transfer time of approximately one pixel, are mainly responsible for the trailing charge of an X-ray event seen in the following pixel. A comparison of the trailing charge in two clocking modes reveals that the CTI depends not only on the transfer time but also on the area, namely the imaging or storage area. We construct a new CTI model by taking into account both transfer-time and area dependence. This model reproduces the data obtained in both clocking modes consistently. We also examine apparent flux dependence of the CTI observed without the CI technique. The higher incident X-ray flux is, the lower the CTI value becomes. It is due to a sacrificial charge effect by another X-ray photon. This effect is found to be negligible when the CI technique is used.

Extended X-ray emission from the z = 4.26 radio galaxy 4C 63.20

ABSTRACT We report on deep Chandra X-ray Telescope imaging observations of 4C 63.20, one of the few known radio galaxies at z > 3.5. The X-ray counterpart is resolved into a core plus two off-nuclear sources that (combined) account for close to 30 per cent of the total X-ray flux. Their morphology and orientation are consistent with a diffuse, lobe-like nature, albeit compact hotspots cannot be ruled out. The broad-band spectral energy distribution of 4C 63.20 can be reproduced with a jet model where the majority of the radio flux can be ascribed to synchrotron emission from the hotspots, whereas the (non-nuclear) X-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton (IC) off of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons within the extended lobes. This scenario is broadly consistent with the expectation from highly magnetized lobes in a hotter CMB, and supports the view that IC/CMB may quench less extreme radio lobes at high redshifts.

Development of imaging x-ray telescopes at Tongji University

The imaging x-ray telescope (IXT) was first developed at the Institute of Precision Optical Engineering of Tongji University in 2007. Since then, we have made great progress on the development of mirror fabrication, coatings, and optic assembly. In this paper, we intend to provide an overview of the progress. Currently, we can routinely produce cylindrical mirror substrates with angular resolution of 30″ to 60″. To improve the effective area, coatings using C, Ni, and Pt layers were designed and achieved a high reflectivity at 0.5 to 10 keV. During the optic assembly, an in-situ measurement system and a three-dimensional ray-tracing program have been developed, thus guiding the assembly process in real time. Several prototypes have been fabricated, and one of them with 21 mirror layers was calibrated at the MPE PANTER x-ray test facility in Germany. The IXT prototype, with a focal length of 2052.5 mm, is characterized by a measured half-power diameter of 111″ and effective area of 39 cm2 at 1.49 keV.

X線天文衛星代替機(XARM) 搭載の軟Ｘ線撮像装置の開発状況

X線天文衛星代替機(XARM) 搭載の軟Ｘ線撮像装置の開発状況

Performance testing of an x-ray telescope prototype at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

Several imaging x-ray telescope (IXT) prototypes have been fabricated independently by the Institute of Precision Optical Engineering, which employed thermal slumping technology. To verify the performance of the IXT prototypes, a three-layer prototype with a focal length of 2052.5 mm was tested using a narrow beam at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The performance testing posed a challenge due to the need to suppress the finite source distance effect on the IXT prototype (43-m long source-optic distance). In addition, limited use of motorized stages presents challenges. We present the experimental setups and detailed measurement approaches by utilizing limited measurement devices. The prototype is a segmented telescope comprising six sectors. For the best sector, the measured point spread function (PSF) yields a half power diameter (HPD) of 66″ and agrees well with modeling (62″) and the value measured at PANTER (65″). In addition, the integrated HPD of the whole prototype is 82″ obtained by coadding the PSFs of the six sectors.

Estimate of the Upper Limit on Hot Plasma Differential Emission Measure (DEM) in Non-Flaring Active Regions and Nanoflare Frequency Based on the Mg xii Spectroheliograph Data from CORONAS-F/SPIRIT

The nanoflare-heating theory predicts steady hot plasma emission in the non-flaring active regions. It is hard to find this emission with conventional non-monochromatic imagers (such as Atmospheric Imaging Assembly or X-Ray Telescope), because their images contain a cool temperature background. In this work, we search for hot plasma in non-flaring active regions using the Mg XII spectroheliograph onboard Complex Orbital Observations Near-Earth of Activity on the Sun (CORONAS)-F/SPectroheliographIc X-ray Imaging Telescope (SPIRIT). This instrument acquired monochromatic images of the solar corona in the Mg XII 8.42 \AA line, which emits only at temperatures higher than 4 MK. The Mg XII images contain the signal only from hot plasma without any low-temperature background. We studied the hot plasma in active regions using the SPIRIT data from 18-28 February 2002. During this period, the Mg XII spectroheliograph worked with a 105-second cadence almost without data gaps. The hot plasma was observed only in the flaring active regions. We do not observe any hot plasma in non-flaring active regions. The hot plasma column emission measure in the non-flaring active region should not exceed $3 \times 10^{24}$ cm$^{-5}$. The hot Differential Emission Measure (DEM) is less than 0.01 % of the DEM of the main temperature component. Absence of Mg XII emission in the non-flaring active regions can be explained by weak and frequent nanoflares (delay less than 500 seconds) or by very short and intense nanoflares that lead to non-equilibrium ionization.

Possible Accretion Disk Origin of the Emission Variability of a Blazar Jet

Abstract We analyze X-ray light curves of the blazar Mrk 421 obtained from the Soft X-ray Imaging Telescope (SXT) and the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument on board the Indian space telescope AstroSat and archival observations from Swift. We show that the X-ray power spectral density (PSD) is a piece-wise power-law with a break; i.e., the index becomes more negative below a characteristic “break timescale.” Galactic black hole (BH) X-ray binaries and Seyfert galaxies exhibit a similar characteristic timescale in their X-ray variability that is proportional to their respective BH mass. X-rays in these objects are produced in the accretion disk or corona. Hence, such a timescale is believed to be linked to the properties of the accretion flow. Any relation observed between events in the accretion disk and those in the jet can be used to characterize the disk–jet connection. However, evidence of such a link has been scarce and indirect. Mrk 421 is a BL Lac object that has a prominent jet pointed toward us and a weak disk emission, and it is assumed that most of its X-rays are generated in the jet. Hence, the existence of the break in its X-ray PSD may indicate that changes in the accretion disk, which may be the source of the break timescale, are translating into the jet where the X-rays are produced.

Observation and Modeling of Chromospheric Evaporation in a Coronal Loop Related to Active Region Transient Brightening

Abstract Using the observations recorded by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer and X-Ray Telescope both on board Hinode, we present evidence of chromospheric evaporation in a coronal loop after the occurrence of two active region transient brightenings (ARTBs) at the two footpoints. The chromospheric evaporation started nearly simultaneously in all of the three hot channels of AIA 131, 94, and 335 Å and was observed to be temperature dependent, being fastest in the highest temperature channel. The whole loop became fully brightened following the ARTBs after ≈25 s in 131 Å, ≈40 s in 94 Å, and ≈6.5 minutes in 335 Å. The differential emission measurements at the two footpoints (i.e., of two ARTBs) and at the loop top suggest that the plasma attained a maximum temperature of ∼10 MK at all these locations. The spectroscopic observations from IRIS revealed the presence of redshifted emission of ∼20 km s−1 in cooler lines like C ii and Si iv during the ARTBs that was cotemporal with the evaporation flow at the footpoint of the loop. During the ARTBs, the line width of C ii and Si iv increased nearly by a factor of two during the peak emission. Moreover, enhancement in the line width preceded that in the Doppler shift, which again preceded enhancement in the intensity. The observed results were qualitatively reproduced by 1D hydrodynamic simulations, where energy was deposited at both of the footpoints of a monolithic coronal loop that mimicked the ARTBs identified in the observations.

Cool and hot emission in a recurring active region jet

Aims. We present a thorough investigation of the cool and hot temperature components in four recurring active region jets observed on July 10, 2015 using the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), X-ray Telescope (XRT), and Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) instruments.

Design of the Telescope Truss and Gondola for the Balloon-Borne X-ray Polarimeter X-Calibur

X-ray polarimetry has seen a growing interest in recent years. Improvements in detector technology and focusing X-ray optics now enable sensitive astrophysical X-ray polarization measurements. These measurements will provide new insights into the processes at work in accreting black holes, the emission of X-rays from neutron stars and magnetars, and the structure of AGN jets. X-Calibur is a balloon-borne hard X-ray scattering polarimeter. An X-ray mirror with a focal length of 8[Formula: see text]m focuses X-rays onto the detector, which consists of a plastic scattering element surrounded by Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride detectors, which absorb and record the scattered X-rays. Since X-rays preferentially scatter perpendicular to their polarization direction, the polarization properties of an X-ray beam can be inferred from the azimuthal distribution of scattered X-rays. A close alignment of the X-ray focal spot with the center of the detector is required in order to reduce systematic uncertainties and to maintain a high photon detection efficiency. This places stringent requirements on the mechanical and thermal stability of the telescope structure. During the flight on a stratospheric balloon, X-Calibur makes use of the Wallops Arc-Second Pointer (WASP) to point the telescope at astrophysical sources. In this paper, we describe the design, construction, and test of the telescope structure, as well as its performance during a 25-h flight from Ft. Sumner, New Mexico. The carbon fiber–aluminum composite structure met the requirements set by X-Calibur and its design can easily be adapted for other types of experiments, such as X-ray imaging or spectroscopic telescopes.

The Ages of High-Mass X-ray Binaries in M33

AbstractWe present initial results on a survey of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the nearby, star-forming spiral galaxy M33. The HMXB population in M33 is identified and characterized using a combination of deep Chandra X-ray imaging and archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations. We determine ages for the HMXBs to ~5 Myr precision from fits to the color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the surrounding stars and the resultant star formation histories (SFHs). The HMXBs in our M33 sample have measured ages, as well as candidate optical counterparts identified from HST photometry.

Miniature lightweight X-ray optics (MiXO) for surface elemental composition mapping of asteroids and comets

The compositions of diverse planetary bodies are of fundamental interest to planetary science, providing clues to the formation and evolutionary history of the target bodies and the Solar system as a whole. Utilizing the X-ray fluorescence unique to each atomic element, X-ray imaging spectroscopy is a powerful diagnostic tool of the chemical and mineralogical compositions of diverse planetary bodies. Until now the mass and volume of focusing X-ray optics have been too large for resource-limited in-situ missions, so near-target X-ray observations of planetary bodies have been limited to simple collimator-type X-ray instruments. We introduce a new Miniature lightweight Wolter-I focusing X-ray Optics (MiXO) using metal-ceramic hybrid X-ray mirrors based on electroformed nickel replication and plasma thermal spray processes. MiXO can enable compact, powerful imaging X-ray telescopes suitable for future planetary missions. We illustrate the need for focusing X-ray optics in observing relatively small planetary bodies such as asteroids and comet nuclei. We present a few example configurations of MiXO telescopes and demonstrate their superior performance in comparison to an alternative approach, micro-pore optics, which is being employed for the first planetary focusing X-ray telescope, the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer-T (MIXS-T) onboard Bepicolumbo. X-ray imaging spectroscopy using MiXO will open a large new discovery space in planetary science and will greatly enhance our understanding of the nature and origin of diverse planetary bodies.

Calibration of Hinode/XRT for Coalignment

We present coalignment calibration procedures for the X-ray Telescope (XRT) onboard the Hinode satellite. We performed not only an XRT stand-alone calibration, but also cross calibration using data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Several new methods we describe here may also be useful for the coalignment calibration of other instruments. We have developed a database of coalignment coefficients and software to access it, so that all XRT images can be easily and accurately overlaid onto the images from other instruments, especially AIA and HMI.

The protoMIRAX hard X-ray imaging balloon experiment

The protoMIRAX hard X-ray imaging telescope is a balloon-borne experiment developed as a pathfinder for the MIRAX satellite mission. The experiment consists essentially in a coded-aperture hard X-ray (30-200 keV) imager with a square array (13$\times$13) of 2mm-thick planar CZT detectors with a total area of 169 cm$^2$. The total, fully-coded field-of-view is $21^{\circ}\times 21^{\circ}$ and the angular resolution is 1$^{\circ}$43'. In this paper we describe the protoMIRAX instrument and all the subsystems of its balloon gondola, and we show simulated results of the instrument performance. The main objective of protoMIRAX is to carry out imaging spectroscopy of selected bright sources to demonstrate the performance of a prototype of the MIRAX hard X-ray imager. Detailed background and imaging simulations have been performed for protoMIRAX balloon flights. The 3$\sigma$ sensitivity for the 30-200 keV range is ~1.9 $\times$ 10$^{-5}$ photons cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$ for an integration time of 8 hs at an atmospheric depth of 2.7 g cm$^{-2}$ and an average zenith angle of 30$^{\circ}$. We have developed an attitude control system for the balloon gondola and new data handling and ground systems that also include prototypes for the MIRAX satellite. We present the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the camera response at balloon altitudes, showing the expected background level and the detailed sensitivity of protoMIRAX. We also present the results of imaging simulations of the Crab region. The results show that protoMIRAX is capable of making spectral and imaging observations of bright hard X-ray source fields. Furthermore, the balloon observations will carry out very important tests and demonstrations of MIRAX hardware and software in a near space environment.

DIRECT OBSERVATIONS OF MAGNETIC RECONNECTION OUTFLOW AND CME TRIGGERING IN A SMALL ERUPTING SOLAR PROMINENCE

We examine a small prominence eruption that occurred on 2014 May 1 at 01:35 UT and was observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Pre- and post-eruption images were taken by the X-ray Telescope (XRT) on Hinode. Pre-eruption, a dome-like structure exists above the prominence, as demarcated by coronal rain. As the eruption progresses, we find evidence for reconnection between the prominence magnetic field and the overlying field. Fast flows are seen in AIA and IRIS, indicating reconnection outflows. Plane-of-sky flows of 300 km s?1 are observed in the AIA 171 A channel along a potentially reconnected field line. IRIS detects intermittent fast line of sight flows of 200 km s?1 coincident with the AIA flows. Differential emission measure calculations show heating at the origin of the fast flows. Post-eruption XRT images show hot loops probably due to reconfiguration of magnetic fields during the eruption and subsequent heating of plasma in these loops. Although there is evidence for reconnection above the prominence during the eruption, high spatial resolution images from IRIS reveal potential reconnection sites below the prominence. A height?time analysis of the erupting prominence shows a slow initial rise with a velocity of 0.4 km s?1 followed by a rapid acceleration with a final velocity of 250 km s?1. Brightenings in IRIS during the transition between these two phases indicate the eruption trigger for the fast part of the eruption is likely a tether-cutting mechanism rather than a break-out mechanism.

Coronal behavior before the large flare onset

Abstract Flares are a major explosive event in our solar system. They are often followed by a coronal mass ejection that has the potential to trigger geomagnetic storms. There are various studies aiming to predict when and where the flares are likely to occur. Most of these studies mainly discuss the photospheric and chromospheric activity before the flare onset. In this paper we study the coronal features before the famous large flare occurrence on 2006 December 13. Using the data from Hinode/Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS), X-Ray Telescope (XRT), and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)/Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT), we discuss the coronal features in the large scale (a few 100″) before the flare onset. Our findings are as follows. (1) The upflows in and around the active region start growing from ∼ 10 to 30 km s−1 a day before the flare. (2) The expanding coronal loops are clearly observed a few hours before the flare. (3) Soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet intensity are gradually reduced. (4) The upflows are further enhanced after the flare. From these observed signatures, we conclude that the outer part of active region loops with low density was expanding a day before the flare onset, and the inner part with high density was expanding a few hours before the onset.

A Preliminary Research on the Development of the Hard X-ray Imaging Telescope

The hard X-ray imaging telescope based on the Fourier transform imaging technique is introduced. The double-layer parallel gratings are used to make the modulation and coding on the light emerging from a celestial X-ray source, the modulated light is acquired, to make the optoelectronic conversion by scintillation crystal detectors, and finally read out by the electronic system. The modulation collimator X-ray telescopes can be divided into two types: the spatial modulation and temporal modulation. The temporal modulation system requires the scanning motion of the detector system, but the spatial modulation system requires no motion. The technology of grating fabrication is investigated, and the basic structure design of the collimators is given. The principal compo- nents of the prototype hard X-ray imaging telescope of spatial modulation type are successfully developed, including the 8 CsI crystal detector modules (contain- ing photomultipliers or PMTs), 8-channel shaping amplifiers (two of them are prepared for experiments), and the data acquisition system. And the preliminary test results of the electronic system are also given.