Search Publications
Soft proton scattering at grazing incidence from X-ray mirrors: analysis of experimental data in the framework of the non-elastic approximation
Santangelo, Andrea; Molendi, Silvano; Lotti, Simone +9 more
Astronomical X-ray observatories with grazing incidence optics face the problem of pseudo-focusing of low energy protons from the mirrors towards the focal plane. Those protons constitute a variable, unpredictable component of the non X-ray background that strongly affects astronomical observations and a correct estimation of their flux at the foc…
Soft proton flux on ATHENA focal plane and its impact on the magnetic diverter design
Jacquey, Christian; Piro, Luigi; Molendi, Silvano +11 more
The experience gained with the current generation of X-ray telescopes like Chandra and XMM-Newton has shown that low energy "soft" protons can pose a severe threat to the possibility to exploit scientific data, reducing the available exposure times by up to 50% and introducing a poorly reproducible background component. These soft protons are pres…
A systematic analysis of the XMM-Newton background: II. Properties of the in-Field-Of-View excess component
Tiengo, Andrea; De Luca, Andrea; Marelli, Martino +6 more
We present an accurate characterization of the particle background behaviour on XMM-Newton based on the entire EPIC archive. This corresponds to the largest EPIC data set ever examined. Our results have been obtained thanks to the collaboration between the FP7 European program EXTraS and the ESA R&D ATHENA activity AREMBES. We used as a diagno…
A systematic analysis of the XMM-Newton background: IV. Origin of the unfocused and focused components
Tiengo, A.; Rossetti, M.; Moretti, A. +6 more
We show the results obtained in the FP7 European program EXTraS and in the ESA R&D ATHENA activity AREMBES aimed at a deeper understanding of the XMM-Newton background to better design the ATHENA mission. Thanks to an analysis of the full EPIC archive coupled to the information obtained by the Radiation Monitor we show the cosmic ray origin of…
A systematic analysis of the XMM-Newton background: I. Dataset and extraction procedures
Tiengo, Andrea; De Luca, Andrea; Marelli, Martino +6 more
XMM-Newton is the direct precursor of the future ESA ATHENA mission. A study of its particle-induced background provides therefore significant insight for the ATHENA mission design. We make use of ∼12 years of data, products from the third XMM-Newton catalog as well as FP7 EXTraS project to avoid celestial sources contamination and to disentangle …
A systematic analysis of the XMM-Newton background: III. Impact of the magnetospheric environment
Tiengo, Andrea; De Luca, Andrea; Marelli, Martino +6 more
A detailed characterization of the particle induced background is fundamental for many of the scientific objectives of the Athena X-ray telescope, thus an adequate knowledge of the background that will be encountered by Athena is desirable. Current X-ray telescopes have shown that the intensity of the particle induced background can be highly vari…
The role of the background in past and future X-ray missions
Molendi, Silvano
Background has played an important role in X-ray missions, limiting the exploitation of science data in several and sometimes unexpected ways. In this presentation I review past X-ray missions focusing on some important lessons we can learn from them. I then go on discussing prospects for overcoming background related limitations in future ones.
An XMM-Newton proton response matrix
Molendi, Silvano; Lotti, Simone; Mineo, Teresa +1 more
Soft protons constitute an important source of background in focusing X-ray telescopes, as Chandra and XMM-Newton experience has shown. The optics in fact transmit them to the focal plane with efficiency similar to the X-ray photon one. This effect is a good opportunity to study the environment of the Earth magnetosphere crossed by the X-ray satel…
The thin and medium filters of the EPIC camera on-board XMM-Newton: measured performance after more than 15 years of operation
Tiengo, Andrea; Barbera, Marco; Gastaldello, Fabio +9 more
After more than 15 years of operation of the EPIC camera on board the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory, we have reviewed the status of its Thin and Medium filters. We have selected a set of Thin and Medium back-up filters among those still available in the EPIC consortium and have started a program to investigate their status by different laboratory m…
Realization of X-ray telescopes-from design to performance
Aschenbach, Bernd
For more than 45 years the building of X-ray telescopes for solar and astronomical observations has been practised with significant performance improvement. The various techniques applied are reviewed emphazising the impact of proper mirror material choice, grinding and polishing improvements and the role of metrology.