Abstract
The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) of the Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics (Athena) large-scale mission of ESA will provide spatially resolved high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy from 0.2 to 12 keV, with 5\(^{\prime \prime }\) pixels over a field of view of 5 arc minute equivalent diameter and a spectral resolution of 2.5 eV (FWHM) up to 7 keV. The core scientific objectives of Athena drive the main performance parameters of the X-IFU. We present the current reference configuration of the X-IFU, and the key issues driving the design of the instrument.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
K. Mitsuda et al., Proc. SPIE 9144, 91442A (2014). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057199
R. Kelley et al., Proc. SPIE 9905, 99050V (2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232509
K. Nandra et al. (2013). arXiv:1306.2307 [astro-ph.HE]
D. Barret et al., Proc. SPIE 9905, 99052F (2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232432
C. Goodwin Pappas et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
L. Gottardi et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
N. Wakeham et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-018-1898-z
K. Sakai et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
P. Khosropanah et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
A. Miniussi et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
K. Nagayoshi et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
M. Ridder et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
P. Peille et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
R. den Hartog et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-018-1901-8
H. Hakamatsu et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
M. Bruijn et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
N. DeNigris et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
D. Prêle et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
J. van der Kuur et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
E. Cucchetti et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
C. Macculi et al., Proc. SPIE 9905, 99052K (2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231298
M. Biasotti et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
M. D’ Andrea et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. PE-52 This Special Issue (2018)
M. D’ Andrea et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. PE-53 This Special Issue (2018)
S. Lotti et al., Exp. Astron. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-017-9538-1
A. Miniussi et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. 176, 815 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-014-1104-x
S. Stever et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
M. Barbera et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. 184, 706 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-016-1501-4
M. Barbera et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
L. Sciortino et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
N. Yamasaki et al., J. Low Temp. Phys. This Special Issue (2018)
Acknowledgements
The X-IFU will be provided by an international consortium led by France, The Netherlands and Italy, with further ESA member state contributions from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and two partners from outside Europe (the USA and Japan). The research leading to the results on thermal filters and non-X-ray background has received funding from European Unions Horizon 2020 Program under the AHEAD Project (Grant Agreement No. 654215). A. Rozanska was supported by Polish National Science Center Grants Nos. 2015/17/B/ST9/03422, 2015/18/M/ST9/00541.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pajot, F., Barret, D., Lam-Trong, T. et al. The Athena X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU). J Low Temp Phys 193, 901–907 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-018-1904-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-018-1904-5