Stray x-ray flux in the Athena Mirror

Richard Willingale

doi:10.1117/12.2530682

9 September 2019 Stray x-ray flux in the Athena Mirror

Richard Willingale

Proceedings Volume 11119, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX; 111190Q (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2530682
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Athena Mirror comprises an array of Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) modules which conform to the Wolter- Schwartzschild (W-S) geometry. In common with all Wolter Type I telescope mirrors the SPO modules produce stray X-ray flux which does not form a focused image but nevertheless impacts on the focal plane and introduces an extra background component in the X-ray images. This stray X-ray flux has 3 components, single reflections from the 2ndWolter I surfaces (the hyperbolic surface), reflections from the backsides of the reflecting membranes and support ribs in the SPO structure and scattering associated with the 2-reection imaged X-rays. We present a detailed analytical model for predicting the distribution of the stray X-ray flux in the Athena Mirrors and assess the impact of this on the sensitivity and imaging capability of the Athena Observatory.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Richard Willingale "Stray x-ray flux in the Athena Mirror", Proc. SPIE 11119, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX, 111190Q (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2530682

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