Abstract
We are investigating possible technical solutions to minimize the instrumental non X-ray background (NXB) of the X-ray Micro-calorimeter Spectrometer (XMS) for the ATHENA space mission. In the proposed design, XMS will be provided with an anti-coincidence system in order to reject most of the X-ray-like events produced by primary solar and cosmic particles that are expected to populate the L-2 space environment. However, the rejection efficiency of events produced by secondary particles cannot be as good as that of events produced directly by primary particles. Among secondary emitted particles, knock-on electrons have in general a major impact in determining the NXB level of X-ray detectors. For this reason, it may be helpful to adopt some techniques of passive shielding together with the use of the active anti-coincidence. We present preliminary results of a study on polyimide sheets, which could be employed to reduce the fluence of knock-on electrons onto XMS and, more in general, to optimize the design and configuration of X-ray detectors in orbit.
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We acknowledge ASI under contract I/035/10/0.
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Perinati, E., Lotti, S., Colasanti, L. et al. Kapton Polymeric Films to Shield X-Ray Detectors in Orbit. J Low Temp Phys 167, 232–235 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-012-0523-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-012-0523-9