The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer for AXAF

Claude R. Canizares; Mark L. Schattenburg; Henry I. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.966589

14 July 1986 The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer for AXAF

Claude R. Canizares, Mark L. Schattenburg, Henry I. Smith

Proceedings Volume 0597, X-Ray Instrumentation in Astronomy; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.966589
Event: 1985 International Technical Symposium/Europe, 1985, Cannes, France

Abstract

We describe a High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer that operates over the range 0.4-8 keV, gives resolving powers of 100-1000 and effective areas of 10-200 cm². The instrument, which is part of the MIT High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy investigation, consists of a single array of grating facets of two types: medium energy gratings of 0.6 μm period, 0.5 μm thick silver mounted behind the outer three AXAF mirrors, and high energy gratings of 0.2 μm period, 1.0 μm thick gold mounted behind the inner three mirrors. The gratings are oriented so as to correct for coma and so that the medium and high energy spectra form a shallow "X" at the AXAF focal plane. The thicknesses and materials of the gratings are selected to give total first order diffraction efficiencies of up to 50%. The gratings are fabricated on thin polyimide films using techniques of X-ray lithography. They have been tested at energies of 5 to 15 keV. The minimum detectable line strength for point sources observed with the HETGS and a CCD detector is 1-10 x 10^-6 photons cm^-2 s^-1. Likely targets include normal stars, binary X-ray sources, active galactic nuclei and quasars. The HETGS can also be used to give moderate resolution spectra of slightly extended sources and monochromatic images of sources with strong lines, such as supernova remnants in nearby galaxies.

Citation Download Citation

Claude R. Canizares, Mark L. Schattenburg, and Henry I. Smith "The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer for AXAF", Proc. SPIE 0597, X-Ray Instrumentation in Astronomy, (14 July 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.966589

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available