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X-ray CCD Calibration for the AXAF CCD Imaging Spectrometer

M. Bautz, S. Kissel, G. Prigozhin, S. Jones, T. Isobe,
H. Manning, M. Pivovaroff, G. Ricker and J. Woo
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Space Research, Cambridge, MA 02139

[1]Current Address: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Abstract:

We summarize the strategy and techniques used to calibrate X-ray CCD detectors for the AXAF CCD Imaging Spectrometer in the spectral range between 0.2 keV and 10 keV. The very demanding calibration requirements (energy scale knowledge error of order 0.1%; detection efficiency knowledge error of order 1%) are reviewed. The primary standards chosen for the calibration are discussed, with particular attention to the use of undispersed synchrotron radiation as a primary radiometric standard for the detection efficiency calibration. We review the basic models of the detector response which it is the objective of the calibration enterprise to constrain. The accuracy and reproducibility of the energy scale, spectral redistribution and detection efficiency calibration is discussed and illustrated with sample results from calibration of flight detectors.

Keywords: X-rays, charge coupled devices (CCD), calibration, AXAF, ACIS





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