Reflection grating spectrometer for the x-ray multi-mirror (XMM) space observatory: design and calculated performance
A spectrometer design candidate is presented for the X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM) observatory, being planned by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a long-lived large-area of telescopes. The science requirement of moderate resolution (E/..delta..E approx.100) spectroscopy in a two octave region (0.5 to 2 keV) with extremely high throughput (effective area > 500 cm/sup 2/) results in the use of grazing incidence reflection gratings. Due to the low image quality of the telescopes (approx. 1 minute of arc), the grating dispersion must be maximized by use of the classical grating mount in which the spectrum is dispersed within the plane of incident radiation. Due to the small field of view by the x-ray telescopes, the gratings must be situated in the converging beam at the exit of the telescope. A spectrometer module consists of a thin-foil conical mirror telescope, a stack of plane varied-space reflection gratings and an imaging proportional counter. This system is analyzed on the basis of dispersion, geometric aberrations and efficiency. At a spectral resolution of 0.15 A, a twenty module XMM would attain an average effective area of approx.900 cm/sup 2/, reaching twice this value at the peak wavelength (15 A). Similar throughput is obtained in second order centered at 7.5 A, the two spectral orders separated by the non-dispersive energy resolution of the proportional counter. Continuous spectra are obtained in the 6-25 A band (0.5 to 2 keV), and can be extended to 45 A if desired by tuning of the grating. The instrument sensitivity is sufficient to allow the first spectral detection of soft x-ray features in external galaxies, with access to an estimated population of several hundred active galactic nuclei. Such observations will expand vastly the roles feasible for spectroscopy in x-ray astrophysics, marking the beginning of a new era in space astronomy.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 5499193
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-20466; CONF-8511123-5; ON: DE86013485
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. international technical symposium on optical and electro-optical applied science and engineering, Cannes, France, 25 Nov 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GRATINGS
DESIGN
PERFORMANCE
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
SATELLITES
SPECTRAL RESPONSE
TELESCOPES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATION DETECTORS
SPECTROMETERS
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)
640100 - Astrophysics & Cosmology