A High Resolution "Color" X-Ray Camera with Thousands of Pixels

Monday, February 10, 2020 - 11:00 in Astronomy & Space

This blog post originated in the 2018 Science Mission Directorate Science and Technology Report. PROJECT Demonstration model of the Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) KEY POINTS An X-ray camera is being developed with 3168 pixels and ground-breaking capability to resolve different “colors” of X-rays. This technology will allow observations of the dynamics and composition of hot energetic material in galaxy clusters and around black holes. Scientists can use these images to learn about the formation and evolution of these complex cosmic objects. A prototype full-size TES microcalorimeter array mounted on a testing platform that mimics the focal plane assembly design for the ATHENA mission. Some of the most fascinating objects in the universe are made up of hot energetic material that emit X-rays. NASA is part of an international collaboration developing a camera capable of imaging these systems using microcalorimeter pixels. This camera will be part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Advanced Telescope for High...

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