Engineering topics

Weisskopf, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Weisskopf, M..

18 records

NASA NTRS2017

The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE): Overview

Mission background: Imaging x-ray polarimetry in 2–8 kiloelectronvolt band; NASA Astrophysics Small Explorer (SMEX) selected in 2017 January. Orbit: Pegasus-XL (airborne) launch in 2021, from Kwajalein; Equatorial circular orbit at greater than or approximately equal to 540 kilometers (620 kilometers, goal) altitude. Flight system: Spacecraft, payload structure, and integration by Ball Aerospace - Deployable payload boom from Orbital-ATK, under contract to Ball; X-ray Mirror Module Assemblies by NASA/MSFC; X-ray (polarization-sensitive) Instruments by IAPS/INAF (Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali / Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica) and INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare). Ground system: ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) Malindi ground station, with Singapore backup; Mission Operations Center at LASP (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado); Science Operations Center at NASA/MSFC; Data archive at HEASARC (High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center), (NASA/GSFC), mirror at ASI Data Center. Science: Active galactic nuclei; Microquasars; Radio pulsars and pulsar wind nebulae; Supernova remnants; Magnetars; Accreting x-ray pulsars.

X-ray polarimetry space missio↗

NASA NTRS2014

Lessons We Learned Designing and Building the Chandra Telescope

2014 marks the crystal (15th) anniversary of the launch of the Chandra X‐ray Observatory. This paper offers some of the major lessons learned by some of the key members of the Chandra Telescope team. We offer some of the lessons gleaned from our experiences developing, designing, building and testing the telescope and its subsystems, with 15 years of hindsight. Among the topics to be discussed are the early developmental tests, known as VETA‐I and VETA‐II, requirements derivation, the impact of late requirements and reflection on the conservatism in the design process.

Arenberg, Jonathan↗

NASA NTRS2012

ORIGIN: Metal Creation and Evolution from the Cosmic Dawn

ORIGIN is a proposal for the M3 mission call of ESA aimed at the study of metal creation from the epoch of cosmic dawn. Using high-spectral resolution in the soft X-ray band, ORIGIN will be able to identify the physical conditions of all abundant elements between C and Ni to red-shifts of z=10, and beyond. The mission will answer questions such as: When were the first metals created? How does the cosmic metal content evolve? Where do most of the metals reside in the Universe? What is the role of metals in structure formation and evolution? To reach out to the early Universe ORIGIN will use Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) to study their local environments in their host galaxies. This requires the capability to slew the satellite in less than a minute to the GRB location. By studying the chemical composition and properties of clusters of galaxies we can extend the range of exploration to lower redshifts (z approx. 0.2). For this task we need a high-resolution spectral imaging instrument with a large field of view. Using the same instrument, we can also study the so far only partially detected baryons in the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM). The less dense part of the WHIM will be studied using absorption lines at low redshift in the spectra for GRBs. The ORIGIN mission includes a Transient Event Detector (coded mask with a sensitivity of 0.4 photon/sq cm/s in 10 s in the 5-150 keV band) to identify and localize 2000 GRBs over a five year mission, of which approx.65 GRBs have a redshift >7. The Cryogenic Imaging Spectrometer, with a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV, a field of view of 30 arcmin and large effective area below 1 keV has the sensitivity to study clusters up to a significant fraction of the virial radius and to map the denser parts of the WHIM (factor 30 higher than achievable with current instruments). The payload is complemented by a Burst InfraRed Telescope to enable onboard red-shift determination of GRBs (hence securing proper follow up of high-z bursts) and also probes the mildly ionized state of the gas. Fast repointing is achieved by a dedicated Controlled Momentum Gyro and a low background is achieved by the selected low Earth orbit.

Kouveliotou, C.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Developments for Nickel Electroformed X-Ray Optics

This slide presentation reviews the developments at Marshall Space Flight Center in fabricating Electroformed Nickel X-ray Optical devices. Missions that are using the mandrels created using the described process are reviewed, and improvements in the process of creating better quality mandrels are also reviewed. One of the processes, Electrochemically-Enhanced Mechanical Polishing (EEMP), is described. The Alignment and mounting system for full-shell replicated X-Ray Optics is shown, and the selective deposition process is also shown.

Ramsey, B.↗

NASA NTRS2008

ART-XC: A Medium-energy X-ray Telescope System for the Spectrum-R-Gamma Mission

The ART-XC instrument is an X-ray grazing-incidence telescope system in an ABRIXAS-type optical configuration optimized for the survey observational mode of the Spectrum-RG astrophysical mission which is scheduled to be launched in 2011. ART-XC has two units, each equipped with four identical X-ray multi-shell mirror modules. The optical axes of the individual mirror modules are not parallel but are separated by several degrees to permit the four modules to share a single CCD focal plane detector, 1/4 of the area each. The 450-micron-thick pnCCD (similar to the adjacent eROSITA telescope detector) will allow detection of X-ray photons up to 15 keV. The field of view of the individual mirror module is about 18 x 18 arcminutes(exp 2) and the sensitivity of the ART-XC system for 4 years of survey will be better than 10(exp -12) erg s(exp -1) cm(exp -2) over the 4-12 keV energy band. This will allow the ART-XC instrument to discover several thousand new AGNs.

Arefiev, V.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Canadian Led X-ray Polarimeter Mission CXP

We propose a Canadian-led X-ray Polarimetry Mission (CXP), to include a scattering X-ray Polarimeter and sensitive All-Sky X-ray Monitor (ASXM). Polarimetry would provide a new observational window on black holes, neutron stars, accretion disks and jets, and the ASXM would offer sensitive monitoring of the volatile X-ray sky. The envisioned polarimeter consists of a hollow scattering beryllium cone surrounded by an annular proportional counter, in a simple and elegant design that is reliable and low-risk. It would be sensitive in the 6-30 keV band to approx. 3% polarization in approx. 30 Galactic sources and 2 AGN in a baseline 1-yr mission, and have sensitivity greater than 10 times that of the previous X-ray polarimeter flown (NASA's OSO-8, 1975-78) for most sources. This X-ray polarimeter would tackle questions like, Do black holes spin?, How do pulsars pulse?, What is the geometry of the magnetic field in accreting neutron stars? Where and how are jets produced in microquasars and AGN?, What are the geometries of many of the most famous accretion-disk systems in the sky? This will be done using a novel and until-now unexploited technique that will greatly broaden the available observational phase space of compact objects by adding to timing and spectroscopy observations of polarization fraction and position angle as a function of energy. The All-Sky X-ray Monitor would scan for transients, both as potential targets for the polarimeter but also as a service to the worldwide astronomical community. The entire CXP mission could be flown for $40- 60M CDN, according to estimates by ComDev International, and could be built entirely in Canada. It would fall well within the CSA's SmallSat envelope and would empower the growing and dynamic Canadian High-Energy Astrophysics community with world leadership in a potentially high impact niche area.

Kaspi, V.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Discovery of Spatial and Spectral Structure in the X-Ray Emission from the Crab Nebula

The Chandra X-ray Observatory observed the Crab Nebula and Pulsar During orbital calibration. Zeroth-order images with the High-Energy Transmission Grating (HETG) read-out by the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer spectroscopy array (ACIS-S) show a striking richness of X-ray structure, at a resolution comparable to that of the best ground-based visible-light observations. The HETG-ACIS-S images reveal, for the first time, an X-ray knots along the inner ring and (perhaps) along the inward extension of the X-ray jet. Although complicated by instrumental effects and the brightness of the Crab Nebula, the spectrometric analysis shows systematic variations of the X-ray spectrum throughout the Nebula.

Weisskopf, M.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Replicated Wolter-I X-ray Optics for Lightweight, High Angular Resolution, Large Collecting Area X-Ray Telescopes

The next generation of orbiting x-ray observatories will require high angular resolution telescopes that have an order of magnitude greater collecting area in the 0.1-10 keV spectral region than those currently under construction, but with a much lower weight and cost per unit area. Replicated Wolter-I x-ray optics have the potential to meet this requirement. The currently demonstrated capabilities of replicated Wolter-I optics will be described, and a development plan for creating lightweight, high angular resolution, large effective area x-ray telescopes will be presented.

Joy, M.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Absolute Calibration of the AXAF Telescope Effective Area

The prelaunch calibration of AXAF encompasses many aspects of the telescope. In principle, all that is needed is the complete point response function. This is, however, a function of energy, off-axis angle of the source, and operating mode of the facility. No single measurement would yield the entire result. Also, any calibration made prior to launch will be affected by changes in conditions after launch, such as the change from one g to zero g. The reflectivity of the mirror and perhaps even the detectors can change as well, for example by addition or removal of small amounts of material deposited on their surfaces. In this paper, we give a broad view of the issues in performing such a calibration, and discuss how they are being addressed in prelaunch preparation of AXAF. As our title indicates, we concentrate here on the total throughput of the observatory. This can be thought of as the integral of the point response function, i.e. the encircled energy, out ot the largest practical solid angle for an observation. Since there is no standard x-ray source in the sky whose flux is known to the -1% accuracy we are trying to achieve, we must do this calibration on the ground. we also must provide a means for monitoring any possible changes in this calibration from pre-launch until on-orbit operation can transfer the calibration to a celestial x-ray source whose emission is stable. In this paper, we analyze the elements of the absolute throughput calibration, which we call Effective Area. We review the requirements for calibrations of components or subsystems of the AXAF facility, including mirror, detectors, and gratings. We show how it is necessary to calibrate this ground-based detection system at standard man-made x-ray sources, such as electron storage rings. We present the status of all these calibrations, with indications of the measurements remaining to be done, even though the measurements on the AXAF flight optics and detectors will have been completed by the time this paper is presented. We evaluate progress toward the goal of making 1% measurements of the absolute x-ray flux from astrophysical sources, so that comparisons can be made with their emission at other wavelengths, in support of observations such as the Sunyaev-Zeldovitch effect, which can give absolute distance measurements independent of the traditional distance measuring techniques in astronomy.

Kellogg, E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Image analysis of the AXAF VETA-1 X-ray mirror

Initial core scan data of the VETA-1 X-ray mirror proved disappointing, showing considerable unpredicted image structure and poor measured FWHM. 2-D core scans were performed, providing important insight into the nature of the distortion. Image deconvolutions using a raytraced model PSF was performed successfully to reinforce our conclusion regarding the origin of the astigmatism. A mechanical correction was made to the optical structure, and the minor was tested successfully (FWHM 0.22 arcsec) as a result.

Freeman, M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Image analysis of the AXAF VETA-I x ray mirror

Initial core scan data of the VETA-I x-ray mirror proved disappointing, showing considerable unpredicted image structure and poor measured FWHM. 2-D core scans were performed, providing important insight into the nature of the distortion. Image deconvolutions using a ray traced model PSF was performed successfully to reinforce our conclusion regarding the origin of the astigmatism. A mechanical correction was made to the optical structure, and the mirror was tested successfully (FWHM 0.22 arcsec) as a result.

Freeman, Mark D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Bragg crystal polarimeter for the Spectrum-X-Gamma mission

A Bragg crystal polarimeter for the focal plane of the SODART telescope on the Spectrum-X-Gamma mission is being designed. A mosaic graphite crystal will be oriented at 45 deg to the optic axis of the telescope, thereby preferentially reflecting those X-rays which satisfy the Bragg condition and have electric vectors that are perpendicular to the plane defined by the incident and reflected photons. The reflected X-rays will be detected by an imaging proportional counter with the image providing direct X-ray aspect information. The crystal will be about 50 microns thick to allow X-rays with energies of 4 keV or greater to be transmitted to a lithium block mounted below the graphite. The lithium is used to measure the polarization of these high energy X-rays by exploiting the polarization dependence of Thomson scattering. The development of thin mosaic graphite crystals is discussed and recent reflectivity, transmission, and uniformity measurements are presented.

Holley, J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Bragg crystal polarimeters

A Bragg crystal oriented at 45 deg to an incoming beam of X-rays acts as a polarization analyzer. This crystal geometry preferentially reflects those X-rays that satisfy the Bragg condition and whose electric vectors are perpendicular to the plane defined by the incident and reflected photons. X-rays with electric vectors parallel to this plane of incidence are photoelectrically absorbed. The energy bandwidth of nearly perfect crystals is extremely small, which makes them very inefficient X-ray polarimeters. This limitation is particularly acute for observations of the relatively weak X-ray continuum of stellar sources. The bandwidth can be greatly increased by employing mosaic or ideally imperfect crystals. Mosaic crystals possess a high integrated reflectivity, which results in a large increase in the reflection of continuum radiation. A review of the theory and performance characteristics of crystal polarimeters designed for observations of cosmic X-ray sources is presented.

Silver, E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The Stellar X-ray Polarimeter - A focal plane polarimeter for the Spectrum X-Gamma mission

This paper describes an X-ray polarimeter that will be flown on the Spectrum X-Gamma mission. The instrument exploits three distinct physical processes to measure polarization: Bragg reflection from a graphite crystal, Thomson scattering from a metallic lithium target, and photoemission from a cesium iodide photocathode. These three methods allow polarization measurements over an energy band from 0.3 to 12 keV. The polarimeter will make possible sensitive measurements of several hundred known X-ray sources. X-ray polarization measurements will make it possible to constrain the geometry of gas flow in X-ray binaries, identify nonthermal emission in supernova remnants, test current models for X-ray emission in radio pulsars, determine the radiation mechanisms in active galactic nuclei, and search for inertial frame dragging (Lense-Thirring effect) around the putative black hole in Cygnus X-1.

Kaaret, P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The EXOSS mission for hard X-ray astronomy

The basis for the Energetic X-ray Observatory on Space Station is described. Attention is given to the principal scientific objectives of EXOSS, namely, to study in detail AGN and quasars (some 10,000 should be detectable) as well as compact Galactic sources (accreting white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes), and to probe both nonthermal and high-temperature thermal phenomena and the fundamental nature of these objects. The principal technical characteristics of the EXOSS baseline instrument, which overlap in sensitivity in the approximately 40-to-60-keV band, are presented. EXOSS should facilitate efforts to determine: the central power source and the dominant emission mechanisms in AGN, the ways in which the various AGN classes differ as hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray emitters, and the contribution of AGN to the diffuse hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray background.

Grindlay, Jonathan E.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Solar flare X-ray polarimeter utilizing a large area thin beryllium scattering disk

A model of a solar flare X-ray polarimeter utilizing a large-area thin beryllium scattering disk was developed using Monte Carlo techniques for several classes of solar flares. The solar-flare polarimeter consists of a 30-cm-diam Be disk of about 1/3 of a scattering length thickness, which is surrounded by a cylindrical detector composed of six segmented panels of NaI scintillators, each coupled to 15 photomultiplier tubes. The instrument is sensitive to X-rays from 10 to 100 keV. For a class-M-2 solar flare observed for 10 sec from a balloon at an altitude of 150,000 ft, the minimum detectable polarization at the 99 percent statistical confidence level was found to be 1-6 percent over the energy range 20-100 keV.

Gotthelf, E.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Imaging performance of a normal incidence soft X-ray telescope

Measurements are presented of the imaging performance of a normal incidence spherical soft X-ray mirror at BK-alpha (67.6 A). The reflector was a 124-layer coating consisting of alternating Re-W alloy and C layers with a protective C overcoat 34 A thick deposited on a Zerodur substrate. Measurements made at an angle of 1.5 deg off axis with the prototype of the Einstein Observatory high resolution imager reveal the resolution of the mirror to be about 1 arcsec FWHM, with 50% of the reflected power within the detector field of 512 arcsec contained within a diameter of 5 arcsec. The data demonstrate the practicality and potential good performance of normal-incidence soft X-ray optics, and show that the scattering performances of such devices may be as good or better than the best grazing incidence devices.

Henry, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Space optics: Imaging X-ray optics workshop; Proceedings of the Seminar, Huntsville, Ala., May 22-24, 1979

The papers in this volume are broadly based and represent a comprehensive summary of past achievements, new designs, techniques and future plans in space optics. The design, construction, testing and use of grazing incidence optics have played an integral role in the advance of X-ray astronomy. Topics of interest include a cosmic X-ray telescope for ARIES rocket observations, quest for ultrahigh resolution in X-ray optics, optical coating techniques for Wolter-type substrates, astronomical applications of grazing incidence telescopes with polynomial surfaces, and a paraboloidal X-ray telescope mirror for solar coronal spectroscopy.

Weisskopf, M.↗