Science with Micro-X: the TES Microcalorimeter X-ray Imaging Rocket

Conference · Tue May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672680· OSTI ID:899390

Figueroa-Feliciano, E; Bandler, S R; Bautz, M; Boyce, K R; Brown, G V; Deiker, S; Doriese, W B; Flanagan, K; Galeazzi, M; Hilton, G C; Hwang, U; Irwin, K D; Kallman, T; Kelley, R L; Kilbourne, C A; Kissel, S; Levine, A; Loewenstein, M; Martinez-Galarce, D; McCammon, D ; Mushotzky, R; Petre, R; Porter, F S; Reistema, C D; Saab, T; Serlemitsos, P; Schulz, N; Smith, R; Ullom, J N

Micro-X is a proposed sounding rocket experiment that will combine a transition-edge-sensor X-ray-microcalorimeter array with a conical imaging mirror to obtain high-spectral-resolution images of extended and point X-ray sources. We describe the payload and the science targeted by this mission including the discussion of three possible Micro-X targets: the Puppis A supernova remnant, the Virgo Cluster, and Circinus X-1. For example, a Micro-X observation of the bright eastern knot of Puppis A will obtain a line-dominated spectrum with 90,000 counts collected in 300 seconds at 2 eV resolution across the 0.3-2.5 keV band. Micro-X will utilize plasma diagnostics to determine the thermodynamic and ionization state of the plasma, to search for line shifts and broadening associated with dynamical processes, and seek evidence of ejecta enhancement. For clusters of galaxies, Micro-X can uniquely study turbulence and the temperature distribution function. For binaries, Micro-X's high resolution spectra will separate the different processes contributing to the Fe K lines at 6 keV and give a clear view of the geometry of the gas flows and circumstellar gas.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 899390
• Report Number(s): UCRL-PROC-221634; TRN: US0701956
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 6266; Conference: Presented at: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, Orlando, FL, United States, May 24 - May 31, 2006
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
GALAXIES
GAS FLOW
GEOMETRY
IONIZATION
MIRRORS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
RESOLUTION
ROCKETS
SPECTRA
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
TARGETS
TELESCOPES
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
THERMODYNAMICS
TURBULENCE
X-RAY SOURCES