Design and in-orbit calibration of the MXT optics
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arXiv
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866916000237092864 |
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| author | Feldman, Charly Pearson, James Butcher, Gillian Willingale, Richard O'Brien, Paul Osborne, Julian Mercier, Karine Duigou, Jean-Michel Le Gotz, Diego |
| author_facet | Feldman, Charly Pearson, James Butcher, Gillian Willingale, Richard O'Brien, Paul Osborne, Julian Mercier, Karine Duigou, Jean-Michel Le Gotz, Diego |
| contents | The Microchannel X-ray Telescope (MXT) is one of four instruments on the Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) satellite mission, launched on the 22nd June 2024. The MXT is a narrow-field-optimised, lobster eye X-ray focusing telescope, consisting of an array of 25 square MPOs, with a focal length of 1.14 m and working in the energy band 0.2 - 10 keV. The design of the MXT optic (MOP) is optimised to give a 1 degree FoV to match the detector size, but the optic has the unique characteristics of a lobster eye design, with a wide FoV of 6 degree diameter, and a PSF, which is constant over the entire FoV. The MPOs on the Flight Module (FM) MOP have a pore size of 40 um giving the optimum thicknesses across the aperture of 2.4 mm in the centre and 1.2 mm at the edges. Using specific target sources, the in-orbit calibration of the optic is here described, and compared to the extensive on-ground calibration, which was carried out at the PANTER test facility, MPE, Germany. The design and limitations of the electron diverter, situated directly behind the optic, are also discussed. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_10263 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Design and in-orbit calibration of the MXT optics Feldman, Charly Pearson, James Butcher, Gillian Willingale, Richard O'Brien, Paul Osborne, Julian Mercier, Karine Duigou, Jean-Michel Le Gotz, Diego Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena The Microchannel X-ray Telescope (MXT) is one of four instruments on the Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) satellite mission, launched on the 22nd June 2024. The MXT is a narrow-field-optimised, lobster eye X-ray focusing telescope, consisting of an array of 25 square MPOs, with a focal length of 1.14 m and working in the energy band 0.2 - 10 keV. The design of the MXT optic (MOP) is optimised to give a 1 degree FoV to match the detector size, but the optic has the unique characteristics of a lobster eye design, with a wide FoV of 6 degree diameter, and a PSF, which is constant over the entire FoV. The MPOs on the Flight Module (FM) MOP have a pore size of 40 um giving the optimum thicknesses across the aperture of 2.4 mm in the centre and 1.2 mm at the edges. Using specific target sources, the in-orbit calibration of the optic is here described, and compared to the extensive on-ground calibration, which was carried out at the PANTER test facility, MPE, Germany. The design and limitations of the electron diverter, situated directly behind the optic, are also discussed. |
| title | Design and in-orbit calibration of the MXT optics |
| topic | Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.10263 |