SAASST - Geometrical differences between two X-ray instruments onboard the XMM Newton telescope: (The EPIC-PN and EPIC-MOS)

Thursday, 04 February 2021 12:45

Geometrical differences between two X-ray instruments onboard the XMM Newton telescope: (The EPIC-PN and EPIC-MOS)

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

The XMM-Newton telescope consists of two major X-ray instruments: the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) and the Reflecting Grating Spectrometers (RGS). EPIC is carrying a set of three X-ray CCD cameras, a PN camera, and two MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) cameras, all operating in the 0.3−12 keV energy range.

The EPIC cameras offer the possibility to perform extremely sensitive imaging observations over the telescope's field of view (FOV) of 30 arcmins with moderate spectral (E/Delta E ~ 20-50) and angular resolution (PSF, 6 arcsecs FWHM).

We have constructed an energy-dependent image for the IGR J18027-2016, a high mass x-ray binary formed by a neutron star accreting from the wind of a companion supergiant star:

The two forms of EPIC cameras differ in some essential aspects: the geometry of the CCD lines and the instrument design, as shown in the images above.

Published in SAASST News

More in this category: « A Glimpse of Strengthening - Solar Cycle 25 Exploring IGRJ18027-2016 using Archival Observations from XMM-Newton Telescope. »