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The Detector Subsystem for the SXS Instrument on the Astro-H ObservatoryThe 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
Document ID
20110015260
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Porter, Frederick (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Adams, J. S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Brown, G. V. (Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Livermore, CA, United States)
Chervenak, J. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chiao, M. P. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Fujimoto, R. (Kanazawa Univ. Japan)
Ishisaki, Y. (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ. Tokyo, Japan)
Kelley, R. L. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Kilbourne, C. A. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McCammon, D. (Wisconsin Univ. Madison, WI, United States)
Mitsuda, K. (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Sagamihara, Japan)
Ohashi, T. (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ. Tokyo, Japan)
Szymkowiak, A. E. (Yale Univ. New Haven, CT, United States)
Takei, Y. (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Sagamihara, Japan)
Tashiro, M. (Saitama Univ. Saitama, Japan)
Yamasaki, N. (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Sagamihara, Japan)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 28, 2011
Subject Category
Spacecraft Instrumentation And Astrionics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.CPR.4827.2011
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Conference
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 28, 2011
End Date: July 2, 2011
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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