NASA: New X-ray detectors to reveal secrets of the universe

A team of scientists from NASA, MIT, and NIST have developed new X-ray detectors that could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. The detectors, which are based on a technology called magnetic microcalorimeters, have unprecedented energy resolution and angular resolution, allowing them to see details that were previously invisible.

Prototype 100,000-pixel magnetic calorimeter array developed via collaboration between NASA GSFC and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Credit: NASA GSFC

Microcalorimeters operate at a very low temperature—a few tens of milli-Kelvin above absolute zero. When an X-ray hits the microcalorimeter, its energy is converted into heat, which is then measured by a thermometer. The thermometers used in magnetic microcalorimeters are made of materials that have a strong magnetic response, which allows them to measure temperature changes with great precision.

The new detectors developed by the team have arrays of up to 100,000 pixels, each of which has an energy resolution of about two orders of magnitude greater than that of an X-ray CCD camera. This means that the detectors can be used to measure the energies of X-rays with much greater precision, which is essential for understanding the physical properties of astrophysical plasmas.

In addition to their high energy resolution, the new detectors also have a high angular resolution of 25 microns. This means that they can be used to image objects in space with unprecedented detail. For example, the detectors could be used to study the cores of galaxies, which are currently shrouded in mystery.

The team is currently working on developing a multiplexed read-out system for the new detectors. This will allow them to be used in future astrophysics missions. The team is confident that the new detectors will revolutionize our understanding of the universe and help us to answer some of the most fundamental questions about its origins and evolution.

The development of these new X-ray detectors is a major breakthrough in astrophysics. They have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and help us to answer some of the most fundamental questions about its origins and evolution. The team is currently working on developing a multiplexed read-out system for the new detectors, which will allow them to be used in future astrophysics missions.