Calibration of Chandra's near on-axis optical performance
Abstract
The Chandra X-Ray telescope has excellent angular resolution for on-axis sources. While the Wolter type I design optimizes on-axis performance, there is a relatively large region in which 0.5" to 1" imaging is possible. The Chandra PSF was first characterized during ground calibration and, most recently, from actual on-orbit measurements. The ground calibration provided data with the highest signal to noise but, because of gravity-induced distortions of the optics, could not completely characterize their performance. We present the results of on-orbit calibrations of the optics' performance, focusing on the near on-axis field of view. We present for the first time an analysis of the energy dependence of the on-orbit PSF.
- Publication:
-
X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XIII
- Pub Date:
- February 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.509359
- Bibcode:
- 2004SPIE.5165..433J