The high-speed x-ray camera on AXIS

Eric D. Miller; Marshall W. Bautz; Catherine E. Grant; Richard Foster; Beverly LaMarr; Andrew Malonis; Gregory Prigozhin; Benjamin Schneider; Christopher Leitz; Sven Herrmann; Steven W. Allen; Tanmoy Chattopadhyay; Peter Orel; Glenn R. Morris; Haley Stueber; Abraham D. Falcone; Andrew Ptak; Christopher Reynolds

doi:10.1117/12.2676838

5 October 2023 The high-speed x-ray camera on AXIS

Eric D. Miller, Marshall W. Bautz, Catherine E. Grant, Richard Foster, Beverly LaMarr, Andrew Malonis, Gregory Prigozhin, Benjamin Schneider, Christopher Leitz, Sven Herrmann, Steven W. Allen, Tanmoy Chattopadhyay, Peter Orel, Glenn R. Morris, Haley Stueber, Abraham D. Falcone, Andrew Ptak, Christopher Reynolds

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12678, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII; 1267816 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676838
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

AXIS is a Probe-class mission concept that will provide high-throughput, high-spatial-resolution x-ray spectral imaging, enabling transformative studies of high-energy astrophysical phenomena. To take advantage of the advanced optics and avoid photon pile-up, the AXIS focal plane requires detectors with readout rates at least 20 times faster than previous soft x-ray imaging spectrometers flying aboard missions such as Chandra and Suzaku, while retaining the low noise, excellent spectral performance, and low power requirements of those instruments. We present the design of the AXIS high-speed x-ray camera, which baselines large-format MIT Lincoln Laboratory CCDs employing low-noise pJFET output amplifiers and a single-layer polysilicon gate structure that allows fast, low-power clocking. These detectors are combined with an integrated high-speed, low-noise ASIC readout chip from Stanford University that provides better performance than conventional discrete solutions at a fraction of their power consumption and footprint. Our complementary front-end electronics concept employs state of the art digital video waveform capture and advanced signal processing to deliver low noise at high speed. We review the current performance of this technology, highlighting recent improvements on prototype devices that achieve excellent noise characteristics at the required readout rate. We present measurements of the CCD spectral response across the AXIS energy band, augmenting lab measurements with detector simulations that help us understand sources of charge loss and evaluate the quality of the CCD backside passivation technique. We show that our technology is on a path that will meet our requirements and enable AXIS to achieve world-class science.

Conference Presentation

(2023) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Eric D. Miller, Marshall W. Bautz, Catherine E. Grant, Richard Foster, Beverly LaMarr, Andrew Malonis, Gregory Prigozhin, Benjamin Schneider, Christopher Leitz, Sven Herrmann, Steven W. Allen, Tanmoy Chattopadhyay, Peter Orel, Glenn R. Morris, Haley Stueber, Abraham D. Falcone, Andrew Ptak, and Christopher Reynolds "The high-speed x-ray camera on AXIS", Proc. SPIE 12678, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII, 1267816 (5 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676838

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available