Stray x-ray flux in the Athena Mirror
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.
- Publication:
-
Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IX
- Pub Date:
- September 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.2530682
- Bibcode:
- 2019SPIE11119E..0QW