Title :
XMM-X-ray multimirror mission
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Leicester Univ., UK
Abstract :
The X-ray multimirror mission is the second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 programme. The aim of the mission is to carry out high throughput X-ray spectroscopy of celestial objects in the energy range 0.1 to 10 keV. Three telescopes each contain a nest of grazing incidence mirrors focussing X-rays onto a CCD camera. Two of the telescopes also contain a reflection grating spectrometer each with a further, dedicated CCD camera. A 30 cm optical telescope is mounted parallel to the X-ray telescopes to monitor the X-ray sources in the visible and UV bands. The chief areas of technology development are in the X-ray mirror fabrication, the CCD detectors for the cameras and the intensifier tubes for the optical telescope. Currently in a technology development and science definition phase, XMM is due for launch in 1998
Keywords :
CCD image sensors; X-ray astronomy; X-ray spectrometers; X-ray spectroscopy; artificial satellites; astronomical telescopes; mirrors; television cameras; 0.1 to 10 keV; CCD camera; CCD detectors; Horizon 2000 programme; UV bands; X-ray astronomy; X-ray mirror fabrication; X-ray multimirror mission; X-ray sources; X-ray spectroscopy; X-ray telescopes; celestial objects; grazing incidence mirrors; intensifier tubes; optical telescope; reflection grating spectrometer; visible band;
Conference_Titel :
UK Interest in Horizon 2000 - The ESA Space Science Programme, IEE Colloquium on
Conference_Location :
London
