Development of the WFEE subsystem for the X-IFU instrument of the ATHENA Space Observatory
Abstract
The X-IFU is one of the two instruments of the ESA ATHENA space mission, at present in feasibility phase (phase A). It is an X-Ray spectral imager designed to have an unprecedented 2.5 eV spectral resolution at 6 keV. In the readout chain of the X-IFU, the first stage working at room temperature is the WFEE subsystem, currently being developed at APC laboratory. It will include low-noise amplifiers, current sources, RS485/I2C digital interfaces and housekeeping elements. A first ASIC dedicated to this subsystem has been designed and tested. The basic functions of the main components of the WFEE and its radiation-hardened abilities have been evaluated. According to the measurement results, a second ASIC is being developed, aiming to comply with the WFEE requirements in the X-IFU readout chain.
- Publication:
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Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.2312710
- Bibcode:
- 2018SPIE10699E..4PC