Calibration of X-ray space telescopes
In this work the new concept of a source of X-ray beam for ground calibration of next-generation telescopes is proposed. This facility contains a source of a parametric X-ray radiation (PXR). The source would provide a monochromatic X-ray beam and would allow smooth tuning of photon energy and lin...
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| Published in: | Вопросы атомной науки и техники |
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| Date: | 2004 |
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Національний науковий центр «Харківський фізико-технічний інститут» НАН України
2004
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| Cite this: | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes / A.V. Shchagin, V.M. Sanin, V.V. Sotnikov, V.A. Voronko // Вопросы атомной науки и техники. — 2004. — № 1. — С. 187-190. — Бібліогр.: 5 назв. — англ. |
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Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine| _version_ | 1859865260060573696 |
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| author | Shchagin, A.V. Sanin, V.M. Sotnikov, V.V. Voronko, V.A. |
| author_facet | Shchagin, A.V. Sanin, V.M. Sotnikov, V.V. Voronko, V.A. |
| citation_txt | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes / A.V. Shchagin, V.M. Sanin, V.V. Sotnikov, V.A. Voronko // Вопросы атомной науки и техники. — 2004. — № 1. — С. 187-190. — Бібліогр.: 5 назв. — англ. |
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| container_title | Вопросы атомной науки и техники |
| description | In this work the new concept of a source of X-ray beam for ground calibration of next-generation telescopes is
proposed. This facility contains a source of a parametric X-ray radiation (PXR). The source would provide a
monochromatic X-ray beam and would allow smooth tuning of photon energy and linear polarization direction. The
facility is intended for calibration of registration efficiency, polarization sensitivity and angular properties of space
telescopes and other X-ray and soft gamma-ray instruments in the energy range of incident photons from several
keV up to hundreds keV.
Запропонована нова концепція джерела рентгенівського пучка для наземного калібрування телескопів
наступного покоління. Цей пристрій містить джерело параметричного рентгенівського випромінювання
(ПРВ). Джерело забезпечує монохроматичний рентгенівський пучок і плавну перебудову енергії фотона і
напрямку лінійної поляризації. Пристрій призначений для калібрування ефективності реєстрації, чутливості
до поляризації і кутових властивостей космічних телескопів і інших рентгенівські і м'які гамма-
випромінювання приладів в енергетичному діапазоні падаючих фотонів від кількох до сотень кеВ.
Предложена новая концепция источника рентгеновского пучка для наземной калибровки телескопов следующего поколения. Это устройство содержит источник параметрического рентгеновского излучения
(ПРИ). Источник обеспечивает монохроматический рентгеновский пучок и плавную перестройку энергии
фотона и направления линейной поляризации. Устройство предназначено для калибровки эффективности
регистрации, чувствительности к поляризации и угловых свойств космических телескопов и других рентгеновских и мягкого гамма-излучения приборов в энергетическом диапазоне падающих фотонов от нескольких до сотен кэВ.
|
| first_indexed | 2025-12-07T15:47:46Z |
| format | Article |
| fulltext |
CALIBRATION OF X-RAY SPACE TELESCOPES
A.V. Shchagin, V.M. Sanin, V.V. Sotnikov, V.A. Voronko
National Science Center “Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology”,
61108, Kharkov, Ukraine;
E-mail: shchagin@kipt.kharkov.ua
In this work the new concept of a source of X-ray beam for ground calibration of next-generation telescopes is
proposed. This facility contains a source of a parametric X-ray radiation (PXR). The source would provide a
monochromatic X-ray beam and would allow smooth tuning of photon energy and linear polarization direction. The
facility is intended for calibration of registration efficiency, polarization sensitivity and angular properties of space
telescopes and other X-ray and soft gamma-ray instruments in the energy range of incident photons from several
keV up to hundreds keV.
PACS: 95.55.Ka; 41.50+h; 41.60-m
1. INTRODUCTION
The current astrophysical investigations in the X-ray
band are realized mainly by focusing space telescopes
up to photon energies of about 10 keV. The currently
available installations for calibration of X-ray space
telescopes operating in the range of up to 10 keV rely
on X-ray radiation sources that are based on powerful
X-ray tubes with the use of X-ray monochromator.
Next-generation astrophysical missions are devel-
oped to operate in a harder X-ray band. It is supposed
the new telescopes will utilize the multilayer mirrors to
focus harder X-rays with energies up to of 100 keV and
more [1]. For ground calibration of these telescopes
new techniques are needed.
The main features of the future installations are:
• X-ray radiation band: from a few keV to 160 keV.
• Monochromaticity of X-ray.
• Smooth X-ray radiation energy variation.
• Possibility to choose the linear polarization
direction of X-ray radiation.
Note, the distance between a source of X-ray beam
and telescope should be hundreds meters to provide a
quasi-parallel X-ray beam at a telescope aperture.
In this paper the parametric X-ray radiation [2] gen-
erated by relativistic electrons passing through the
aligned crystal target is used as an X-ray beam source.
The facility, hundreds of meters in length, can provide
calibration of X-ray space telescopes in the energy
range from several keV to hundreds of keV. A smooth
tuning of both the X-ray spectral peak energy and the
linear polarization direction are provided. For the first
time use of PXR as source for telescope calibration has
been suggested in [3] and more detail description can be
found in [4].
2. COMMON SCHEME OF FACILITY FOR
CALIBRATION
The present design involves the use of an electron
linear accelerator as an X-ray radiation source. This ac-
celerator generates in the aligned single crystal target a
parametric X-ray radiation that satisfies the above-men-
tioned requirements.
Apart from the mentioned main purpose, the install-
ation should also provide the calibration of imaging
non-focusing telescopes and their detectors up to ener-
gies of ~500 keV. The X-ray radiation in this installa-
tion can have a high degree of linear polarization that
allows, in turn, the calibration of hard X-ray radiation
polarimeters, which are indispensable elements of astro-
physical investigations.
The availability of the electron linac makes it also
possible to extend the range of electromagnetic radi-
ation to the gamma-radiation region. In this case, a
quasi-monochromatic linearly polarized radiation can
be obtained in the direction parallel to the electron
beam direction with the use of the effect of coherent
bremsstrahlung (CB) with energies up to several tens of
MeV.
So, the proposed installation will have wide capabil-
ities for calibration of focusing and non-focusing tele-
scopes and detecting apparatus in a wide spectral band
partially overlapping the band of telescopes operated on
the principle of total external reflection. The main dif-
ferences of the proposed installation from the facilities
in existence are determined by the following considera-
tions:
• the installation must operate in a harder X-ray
range as opposed to the previous devices;
• the use of the radiation source based on the elec-
tron linac and the goniometer device with a single
crystal target.
In view of this, compared to the existing facilities,
the installation will have new design features, new con-
structional units and devices to measure the electron
beam and X-ray radiation parameters, and also new ele-
ments of the vacuum system.
The general layout of the facility is shown in Fig.1.
The main facility systems are:
• X-ray beam generator composed of linear elec-
tron accelerator with electron energy of 100 MeV
and goniometer chamber with aligned single
crystal target.
• Magnetic system to operate an electron beam.
• Beam control chamber containing instruments for
monitoring of electron and X-ray beam parame-
___________________________________________________________
PROBLEMS OF ATOMIC SIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. 2004. № 1.
Series: Nuclear Physics Investigations (42), p.187-190. 187
mailto:shchagin@kipt.kharkov.ua
ters: X-ray detectors, polarimeter, electron detec-
tors.
• Collimators.
• Electron beam absorber.
• Test chamber housing telescopes, instruments of
focal plane, instruments for control X-ray beam
parameters.
• Radiation shielding.
• Vacuum guide tube with gate valves (tube length
is of 100 m, 500 m and 1000 m for three versions
respectively.
• Vacuum system.
• Rotating platform supporting whether the accel-
erator (in a version of the rotating accelerator) or
rotating magnets at immovable vertical accelera-
tor.
• Control center.
Clean room next to the test chamber can be installed to
mount and operate the focusing telescopes, but it sys-
tem is not considered in our scientific design. It can be
the same as in Marshall Calibration Center [5].
The main problem in any of the versions is the vari-
ation of the direction of electron beam incidence in a
wide angular range. In the context of the project, we
consider two schemes of electron beam rotation around
the center of the crystal target relative to the fixed dir-
ection of the X-ray beam: a) rotation of the electron ac-
celerator together with the HF power supply system
around the center of the goniometer chamber compris-
ing the crystal target rotation of a set of magnets de-
flecting the electron beam, the vertically located elec-
tron linac being immobile [3].
In the case of horizontal arrangement of the acceler-
ator, it is mounted on the rotation platform together
with the HF power supply system and the radiation
shield.
The vertical immobile accelerator (Fig.2) is placed
coaxially with the vertical axis of the goniometer cham-
ber that provides the horizontal rotation of the single
crystal target at adjusting the X-ray source for the ener-
gy needed. The electron beam bending (approximately
through twice the angle of crystal rotation) is realized
by rotating the whole system of bending magnets
around this axis.
3. MAIN PARAMETERS OF X-RAY
BEAM GENERATOR
The calculations of principal parameters of the gen-
erator and the optimum requirements for the component
systems of the generator are presented in [3]. Those
components were the PXR source (crystal-radiator), the
goniometer, the electron accelerator, and the accelera-
tor’s rotating platform. We have considered generator
versions with different electron beam energies: 30, 60,
120, 240, 360 and 480 MeV. A detailed analysis was
performed to elucidate the influence of multiple elec-
tron scattering in the crystal on the PXR spectral and
angular characteristics, and on the PXR polarization.
The angular differential yield of coherent
bremsstrahlung (CB) was calculated, and a possible ef-
fect of CB on the production of quasi-monochromatic
gamma-ray beams of energies higher than 100 keV was
considered [3].
As a result of the calculations performed we have
determined the following basic parameters of the X-ray
generator intended for ground-based calibration of
space telescopes.
Parameters of pulsed electron linear accelerator
(linac): 1) Electron beam energy - 30, 60 (base version),
and 120; 2) Electron beam current - 100 µA; 3) Pulse
duration - 2 µs; Pulse rate - 50 Hz; 4) Initial electron
188
Rotating system of
bending magnets
Rails
Rails
Sliding vacuum junction
Fixed linac
Sliding vacuum
junction
Rotating part of
goniometer chamber
е-
X-ray guide tube
γ
Single crystal target
е-
Absorber (Faraday's cup)
е-
Support
Fixed part of
goniometer chamber
Concrete
Fig. 1. The general layout of the facility for calibration of the space X-ray telescopes
Electron beam
Control center
Vacuum chamber of the goniometer with crystal target
Telescope on mobile support
Beam control chamber
Rails
X-ray beam
Gate valves
Linear electron accelerator (for rotation version)
vacuum test chamber
Vacuum tubesAbsorber of electron beam
Clean room
beam divergence - 1 mrad; 5) Electron beam diameter
on the crystal-radiator surface - from 5 to 10 mm;
6) Step of the accelerator’s rotating system - 10-3 rad.
PXR source as a changeable set of crystalline plates
(disks) placed into the goniometer: 1) Crystals in use -
silicon, germanium, diamond; 2) Crystalline plate thick-
ness - 14 µm for Ge crystals, 58 µm for Si crystals, and
87µm for diamond crystals. 3) Working crystallograph-
ic planes - <111>, <220>, <311>, <400>, <331>,
<422>, <333>. 4) Crystalline plate diameter (inner di-
ameter of the cooling circuit) - no more than 10, 5 and 2
electron beam diameters on the target for diamond, sili-
con, germanium crystals, respectively; 5) Cooling of
crystals-radiators - water; 6) Average crystal-radiator
temperature in the region of electron beam passage - no
more than 100°C for silicon and diamond crystals, no
more than 350°C for germanium crystals; 7) Number of
independent goniometer rotations – 3, range of go-
niometer rotation - 90 degrees, step of goniometer rota-
tion - 10-6 rad;
The basic parameters of the X-ray beam:
1)Energy range from ~2 keV up to about 511 keV
(depending on the electron beam energy, the crystal
and crystallographic plane types).
2)Flux intensity from ~10 to ~5000 quantum/(c⋅cm2)
(0.2 to 100 quantum /cm2 per bunch) at ~500 m from
the source and at an average electron beam current
~100 mA (depending on the electron beam energy,
the X-ray beam energy, the crystal and crystallo-
graphic plane types).
3)Spectral resolution E/∆E (∆E is the energy spread
at the radiation spot on the telescope aperture) -
from ~5 to ~1000 (without monochromator), de-
pending on the X-ray radiation energy, the electron
beam energy and the angular size of the detector (ra-
diation spot size on the telescope aperture).
4)Radiation spot size at ~500 m - from ~0.1 to
~10 m, depending on the radiation energy and the
needed energy resolution.
5)The generator can produce both linearly polarized
and non-polarized X-ray beams.
4. CONCLUSION
The X-ray generator based on PXR has essential ad-
vantages over other radiation sources through the possi-
bility of smoothly varying the spectral peak energy and
the linear polarization direction at a small angular di-
vergence of the X-ray beam. In particular, the generator
provides the production of quasi-monochromatic linear-
ly polarized and non-polarized X-ray and gamma-radia-
tion beams with a smoothly tunable energy in the range
from ~2 keV to ~500 keV.
It is evident that the working range of the X-ray
beam energy is strongly dependent on the electron
beam energy of the accelerator. If one is oriented to per-
forming the calibration of telescopes and X-ray equip-
ment with the use of X-ray (gamma-) quanta of energies
up to 200 keV1, then the electron beam energy must be
120 MeV. If, however, the quasi-monochromatic gam-
ma beams of energies up to 511 keV must be produced,
then the electron beam energy should be increased up to
~500 MeV. On the whole, it is believed that the basic
version of the X-ray generator for calibration of space
telescopes can rely of the linac with an electron beam
energy of 60 MeV and a current beam of 100 µA. This
generator would provide the yield of quasimonochro-
matic X-ray quanta in the energy range from 2 to ~120
keV with a flux intensity from 10 to 1000 quantum/(s⋅
cm2) at a distance of 518.16 meters2 from the radiation
source. A further increase in the electron beam energy
can be realized by stages and parallel with the develop-
ment of new space X-ray telescopes intended for pro-
duction of images of X-ray (gamma-) sources with a ra-
diation energy higher than 120 keV.
Note, that the use of the 60 or 120 MeV electron-
beam-energy generator version may appear quite suffi-
cient for producing quasimonochromatic gamma-beams
in the energy range from ~100 keV up to several MeV.
It might be realized if the coherent bremsstrahlung (CB)
could be used for energy calibrations. To elucidate this
possibility of using the CB when performing calibration
measurements, additional experimental and theoretical
studies into differential properties of the CB and its pos-
sible interference with the PXR must be conducted.
Besides, note a possibility of electron accelerator
application for irradiation. For example, it may be used
in test of radiation resistance of devises during time,
when facility does not work for calibration programs.
The issue may be of interest for specialists in the
fields of X-ray astronomy, optics, detectors and new
kinds of X-ray radiation.
This paper became possible partially due to Grants
1031 from Science and Technology Center in Ukraine.
REFERENCES
1. P. Gorentstein. The Hard X-ray Telescope Mission.
The Next Generation of X-Ray Observatory//
Workshop Proceedings Leicester X-Ray Astronomy
Group Special Report XRA 97/02. MJL Turner &
M.G. Watson, eds, 1997.
2. A.V. Shchagin. Investigations and Properties of
PXR//Electron-Photon Interaction in Dense Media
/ed. by H. Wiedemann, NATO Science Series, II.
Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. 2002, v. 49,
p.133-151.
3. A.V. Shchagin, N.A. Khizhnyak, R.B. Fiorito,
D.W. Rule, X. Artru. Parametric X-ray radiation for
calibration of X-ray space telescopes and genera-
tion of several X-ray beams//Nucl. Instr. and Meth.
2001, v. B173, p.154-159.
1 At present, the possibility of creating space X-ray telescopes
for detection of cosmic X-ray (gamma) radiation of energies
up to 180 keV [1] is only considered.
2 This is the path length in the MSFC facility for calibration of
space telescopes [5].
___________________________________________________________
PROBLEMS OF ATOMIC SIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. 2004. № 1.
Series: Nuclear Physics Investigations (42), p.187-190. 189
Fig. 2. Design version with a rotating magnetic sys-
tem and immobile accelerator (side view)
4. A New Source of Polarized, Monochromatic, Tun-
able X-ray and Soft Gamma-ray Beams for Calib-
ration of Space Telescopes and Other Optics and
Detectors. Proceedings of the STCU Project 1031,
volumes 1,2,3 / ed. by A.V. Shchagin, Kharkov:
KIPT, 2002.
5. M.C.Weisskopf, S.L.O'Dell, R.F.Elsner and L.P.
van Speybroack //Proc.SPIE. 1995, v. 2115, p. 36.
КАЛИБРОВКА КОСМИЧЕСКИХ РЕНТГЕНОВСКИХ ТЕЛЕСКОПОВ
А.В. Щагин, В.М. Санин, В.В. Сотников, В.А. Воронко
Предложена новая концепция источника рентгеновского пучка для наземной калибровки телескопов сле-
дующего поколения. Это устройство содержит источник параметрического рентгеновского излучения
(ПРИ). Источник обеспечивает монохроматический рентгеновский пучок и плавную перестройку энергии
фотона и направления линейной поляризации. Устройство предназначено для калибровки эффективности
регистрации, чувствительности к поляризации и угловых свойств космических телескопов и других рентге-
новских и мягкого гамма-излучения приборов в энергетическом диапазоне падающих фотонов от несколь-
ких до сотен кэВ.
КАЛІБРОВКА КОСМІЧНИХ РЕНТГЕНІВСЬКИХ ТЕЛЕСКОПІВ
А.В. Щагин, В.М. Санін, В.В. Сотніков, В.А. Воронко
Запропонована нова концепція джерела рентгенівського пучка для наземного калібрування телескопів
наступного покоління. Цей пристрій містить джерело параметричного рентгенівського випромінювання
(ПРВ). Джерело забезпечує монохроматичний рентгенівський пучок і плавну перебудову енергії фотона і
напрямку лінійної поляризації. Пристрій призначений для калібрування ефективності реєстрації, чутливості
до поляризації і кутових властивостей космічних телескопів і інших рентгенівські і м'які гамма-
випромінювання приладів в енергетичному діапазоні падаючих фотонів від кількох до сотень кеВ.
190
National Science Center “Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology”,
КАЛИБРОВКА КОСМИЧЕСКИХ РЕНТГЕНОВСКИХ ТЕЛЕСКОПОВ
А.В. Щагин, В.М. Санин, В.В. Сотников, В.А. Воронко
КАЛІБРОВКА КОСМІЧНИХ РЕНТГЕНІВСЬКИХ ТЕЛЕСКОПІВ
|
| id | nasplib_isofts_kiev_ua-123456789-79069 |
| institution | Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine |
| issn | 1562-6016 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-12-07T15:47:46Z |
| publishDate | 2004 |
| publisher | Національний науковий центр «Харківський фізико-технічний інститут» НАН України |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | Shchagin, A.V. Sanin, V.M. Sotnikov, V.V. Voronko, V.A. 2015-03-25T20:23:14Z 2015-03-25T20:23:14Z 2004 Calibration of X-ray space telescopes / A.V. Shchagin, V.M. Sanin, V.V. Sotnikov, V.A. Voronko // Вопросы атомной науки и техники. — 2004. — № 1. — С. 187-190. — Бібліогр.: 5 назв. — англ. 1562-6016 PACS: 95.55.Ka; 41.50+h; 41.60-m https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/79069 In this work the new concept of a source of X-ray beam for ground calibration of next-generation telescopes is proposed. This facility contains a source of a parametric X-ray radiation (PXR). The source would provide a monochromatic X-ray beam and would allow smooth tuning of photon energy and linear polarization direction. The facility is intended for calibration of registration efficiency, polarization sensitivity and angular properties of space telescopes and other X-ray and soft gamma-ray instruments in the energy range of incident photons from several keV up to hundreds keV. Запропонована нова концепція джерела рентгенівського пучка для наземного калібрування телескопів наступного покоління. Цей пристрій містить джерело параметричного рентгенівського випромінювання (ПРВ). Джерело забезпечує монохроматичний рентгенівський пучок і плавну перебудову енергії фотона і напрямку лінійної поляризації. Пристрій призначений для калібрування ефективності реєстрації, чутливості до поляризації і кутових властивостей космічних телескопів і інших рентгенівські і м'які гамма- випромінювання приладів в енергетичному діапазоні падаючих фотонів від кількох до сотень кеВ. Предложена новая концепция источника рентгеновского пучка для наземной калибровки телескопов следующего поколения. Это устройство содержит источник параметрического рентгеновского излучения (ПРИ). Источник обеспечивает монохроматический рентгеновский пучок и плавную перестройку энергии фотона и направления линейной поляризации. Устройство предназначено для калибровки эффективности регистрации, чувствительности к поляризации и угловых свойств космических телескопов и других рентгеновских и мягкого гамма-излучения приборов в энергетическом диапазоне падающих фотонов от нескольких до сотен кэВ. This paper became possible partially due to Grants 1031 from Science and Technology Center in Ukraine. en Національний науковий центр «Харківський фізико-технічний інститут» НАН України Вопросы атомной науки и техники Применение ускоренных пучков Calibration of X-ray space telescopes Калібровка космічних рентгенівських телескопів Калибровка космических рентгеновских телескопов Article published earlier |
| spellingShingle | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes Shchagin, A.V. Sanin, V.M. Sotnikov, V.V. Voronko, V.A. Применение ускоренных пучков |
| title | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes |
| title_alt | Калібровка космічних рентгенівських телескопів Калибровка космических рентгеновских телескопов |
| title_full | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes |
| title_fullStr | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes |
| title_short | Calibration of X-ray space telescopes |
| title_sort | calibration of x-ray space telescopes |
| topic | Применение ускоренных пучков |
| topic_facet | Применение ускоренных пучков |
| url | https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/79069 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shchaginav calibrationofxrayspacetelescopes AT saninvm calibrationofxrayspacetelescopes AT sotnikovvv calibrationofxrayspacetelescopes AT voronkova calibrationofxrayspacetelescopes AT shchaginav kalíbrovkakosmíčnihrentgenívsʹkihteleskopív AT saninvm kalíbrovkakosmíčnihrentgenívsʹkihteleskopív AT sotnikovvv kalíbrovkakosmíčnihrentgenívsʹkihteleskopív AT voronkova kalíbrovkakosmíčnihrentgenívsʹkihteleskopív AT shchaginav kalibrovkakosmičeskihrentgenovskihteleskopov AT saninvm kalibrovkakosmičeskihrentgenovskihteleskopov AT sotnikovvv kalibrovkakosmičeskihrentgenovskihteleskopov AT voronkova kalibrovkakosmičeskihrentgenovskihteleskopov |