Paper 13093-165
Paper 13093-165
Development of the microcalorimeter detector for the Athena/X-ray Integral Field Unit
On demand | Presented live 17 June 2024 
Abstract
The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) will be a microcalorimeter instrument on ESA’s Athena X-ray observatory, set to launch around 2037. Athena recently underwent a reformulation exercise resulting in a simplified X-IFU architecture, with a new baseline configuration featuring fewer pixels and readout channels. Newly developed transition edge sensor pixels that are slower and have reduced magnetic field sensitivity have helped enable the new instrument design whilst maintaining flagship quality science. In this paper, we report on the status and plan for continued development of the X-IFU microcalorimeter array. We describe details of the current pixel architecture and performance specifications. We will present the design of the first full scale microcalorimeter arrays that have the necessary flight like electrical and mechanical interfaces for X-IFU. These arrays will undergo testing in a focal-plane assembly (FPA) Development Model (DM) in Europe later in 2024 and serve as a precursor to the X-IFU Engineering Model detector.
Presenter
NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr. (United States)
Stephen J. Smith is a research astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He received his MPhys degree in physics with space science and technology in 2002 and his PhD in physics in 2006, both from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He is a co-author of ~150 published papers. His primary research interests are in the development of cryogenic detectors and systems for x-ray astronomy applications.