AXAF-mirror effective area calibration using the C-continuum source and solid state detectors
Abstract
The AXAF X-ray mirrors underwent thorough calibration using the X-ray Calibration Facility (XRCF) at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL from late 1996 to early 1997. The x-ray calibration made novel use of the x-ray continuum from a conventional electron-impact source. Taking advantage of the good spectral resolution of solid-state detectors, continuum measurements proved advantageous in calibration the effective area of AXAF's High-Resolution Mirror Assembly (HRMA) for the entire AXAF energy band. The measurements were made by comparing the spectrum detected by a SSD at the focal plane with the spectrum detected by a beam normalization SSD. The HRMA effective area was calibrated by comparing the measurements with the HRMA raytrace model. The HRMA on-orbit performance predictions are made using the calibration results.
- Publication:
-
X-Ray Optics, Instruments, and Missions
- Pub Date:
- November 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.331240
- Bibcode:
- 1998SPIE.3444..234Z