Design and in-orbit calibration of the MXT optics

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Feldman, Charly, Pearson, James, Butcher, Gillian, Willingale, Richard, O'Brien, Paul, Osborne, Julian, Mercier, Karine, Duigou, Jean-Michel Le, Gotz, Diego
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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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