Evidence for micrometeoroid damage in the pn-CCD camera system aboard XMM-Newton
Aschenbach, B.; Trümper, J.; Kemmer, J.; Hartmann, R.; Strüder, L.; Stübig, M.; Englhauser, J.; Meidinger, N.; Holl, P.; Bräuninger, H.; Hartner, G.; Drolshagen, G.
Germany, Netherlands
Abstract
The mirror systems of the X-ray observatory XMM-Newton were designed to image X-rays up to 15 keV by grazing incidence reflection onto a focal plane, equipped with Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs). In orbit # 156 we have observed a sudden increase of about 35 ``bright'' pixels spread over 15 cm2 in the pn-CCD camera system. The amount of locally generated leakage current cannot be explained by ionizing particles. We suggest that a micrometeoroid scattered under a small angle off the X-ray telescope mirror surface finally reached the focal plane detector and produced the damage.