ALEXIS (Array of Low-Energy X-Ray Imaging Sensors): A narrow-band survey/monitor of the ultrasoft x-ray sky

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6473231

Priedhorsky, W C; Bloch, J J; Cordova, F; Smith, B W; Ulibarri, M; Chavez, J; Evans, E; Seigmund, O H.W.; Marshall, H; Vallerga, J

Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories are building an ultrasoft X-ray monitor experiment. This experiment, called ALEXIS (Array of Low-Energy X-Ray Imaging Sensors), consists of six compact normal-incidence telescopes. ALEXIS will operate in the range 70--110 eV. The ultrasoft X-ray/EUV band is nearly uncharted territory for astrophysics. ALEXIS, with its wide fields-of-view and well-defined wavelength bands, will complement the upcoming NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and ROSAT EUV Wide Field Camera, which are sensitive broad-band survey experiments. The program objectives of ALEXIS are to (1) demonstrate the feasibility of a wide field-of-view, normal incidence ultrasoft X-ray telescope system and (2) to determine ultrasoft X-ray backgrounds in the space environment. As a dividend, ALEXIS will pursue the following scientific objectives: (1) to map the diffuse background, with unprecedented angular resolution, in several emission-line bands, (2) to perform a narrow-band survey of point sources, (3) to search for transient phenomena in the ultrasoft X-ray band, and (4) to provide synoptic monitoring of variable ultrasoft X-ray sources such as cataclysmic variables and flare stars. ALEXIS is designed to be flown on a small autonomous payload carrier (a minisat) that could be launched from any expendable launch vehicle. The experiment weighs 100 pounds, draws 40 watts, and produces 10 kbps of data. It can be flown in any low earth orbit. Onboard data storage allows operation and tracking from a single ground station at Los Alamos. 57 refs., 12 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6473231
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-89-479; CONF-890189-3; ON: DE89007980
• Resource Relation: Conference: Berkeley colloquium on extreme ultraviolet astronomy, Berkeley, CA, USA, 19 Jan 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
TELESCOPES
X-RAY EQUIPMENT
PERFORMANCE
DATA PROCESSING
DESIGN
FLOWSHEETS
IMAGE PROCESSING
MAPPING
SOFT X RADIATION
SPACE VEHICLE COMPONENTS
X-RAY SOURCES
DIAGRAMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EQUIPMENT
IONIZING RADIATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
X RADIATION
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)