成像硬X射线望远镜在美国和欧洲的发展

硬X射线能带（20KeV-1MeV)是我们了解天体物理中高能辐射过程的一个好窗口。成像硬X射线望远镜可以提供更好的分辨率和灵敏度来研究硬X射线天体物理学。本文介绍了成像硬X射线望远镜在美国和欧洲的发展，这包括：1）EXITE2，由美国哈佛－史密松林天体物理中心设计和运行的一个光电开关成像硬X射线望远镜；2）EXIST，一个成像硬X射线全天巡天望远镜，将于2010年由ULDB（EXIST－LINE）或国际空间站（EXIST－ISS）承载；3）HERO，由NASA／MSFC建造的一个新的硬X射线光学仪器。     

硬X射线成像望远镜系统初步研究

介绍了基于傅立叶变换成像技术的硬X射线成像望远镜,利用双层平行光栅对天体X射线源发出的光进行调制编码,调制后的光由闪烁晶体探测器捕捉并进行光电转换,最后由电子学系统读出.调制准直器型望远镜分为空间调制和时间调制两种类型,时间调制系统要求探测器系统的扫描运动,而空间调制系统不需要运动.对光栅制作工艺进行了研究,给出了准直器的基本结构设计,成功制作了空间调制方式硬X射线成像望远镜原型机所需的关键部件,包括8个碘化铯晶体的探测器模块(含光电倍增管PMT)、8通道成型放大器(其中两套为实验备份)和数据获取系统.对这些部件的设计作了介绍,并给出了电子学系统的测试结果.     

天鹅座X-1硬X射线的能量谱

1985年9月22日,我们用空间硬X射线望远镜HAPI-2,在我国的高空气球上,对天鹅座X-1进行了观测,望远镜几何面积为140cm~2,观测能区20—200keV,空间定向精度±0.2°。获得的硬X射线能谱陡,总辐射能流LX～1.0×1~(37)erg/sec,低于常规态。本文将介绍望远镜的性能和观测过程,能谱分析的结果,并对当时天鹅座X-1可能的“态”进行讨论。     

我国首次对蟹状星云及其脉冲星硬X射线观测成功

1984年5月23日,我们用自己研制的HAPI-1硬X射线望远镜,在高空气球上对蟹状星云及其脉冲星辐射的高能X射线进行了观测。 HAPI-1望远镜的主体部分是一个由碘化钠和碘化铯组成的复合晶体探测器。直径15cm,主晶体CsI(T1)厚0.5cm,下置5cm厚的NaI(T1),用来屏蔽大气反照γ射线背景和抑制康普顿散射成分。两个晶体中的信号进入同一个光电倍增管,经脉冲形状甄别电路后被分开。再经数据获取电路,便可得一组CsI·NaI     

准直型空间X射线望远镜本底研究概述

以准直型空间探测器的本底估算为主要内容,结合我国在研的硬X射线调制望远镜,介绍了轨道环境对望远镜本底水平的影响,总结了空间望远镜常用的本底估算方法和硬X射线调制望远镜将考虑的本底估算方法。最后结合硬X射线调制望远镜研制工作,简要阐述了本底模拟流程和本底分析结果。     

空间硬X射线望远镜HAPI-1及其对蟹状星云脉冲星的观测

HAPI-1是我国第一个用于空间高能天文观测的硬X射线望远镜系统,由面积145cm~2厚0.5cm的CsI(T1)主探测晶体及其下部厚5cm的NaI(T1)反符合晶体构成复合晶体探测器,采用脉冲形状甄别技术区分两种晶体的输出信号,多种物质构成的夹层式屏蔽筒和准直器使望远镜具有约4°视场角(HWHM),电子学、姿态控制和数据获取系统使望远镜具有对20—200keV能区高能光子到达时刻和能量进行空间定向观测的能力。本文介绍HAPI-1的构成和主要性能,以及1984年5月利用该望远镜在我国高空科学气球上对蟹状星云脉冲星的观测结果。     

NGC4051短时标光变的多波段同时性观测

探索活动星系的快速光变,是研究星系中心致密核结构及辐射机制的强有力手段。NGC4051是在X射线波段具有短时标(分—小时)光变的极少数活动星系之一。为进一验证X射线波段短时标光变的观测结果,也为了探索光学波段是否具有短时标光变及它们的相关性,我们于1985年5月13—15日分别在美国和中国对NGC4051进行了X射线波段及可见光波段的同时性联测。Martin博士和程福臻在美国利用EXOSAT卫星观测了NGC4051的X射线辐射;谢光中等人在云南天文台利用一米RCC望远镜及积分光度计进行了U波段的观测。结果如下:(1)软X射线的流量降低了13倍,而硬X射线的流量已小到探测不到(至少降低了203倍);(2)U波段在13日晚的观测表明NGC4051有一个时标～1200秒、振幅ΔU 0.11(±0.03)的短时标光变。这种光变共有四个事例,且光变曲线十分完整,由于标准误差σ=0.03,可信度已大于3σ。此外,这一结果还与P.E.Marshall等人在X—射线波段所得到的光变时标～1000秒相吻合,这似乎表明两个波段的光变可能具有相关性。     

修正的Neupert效应

Neupert效应的定性描述是耀斑中脉冲分量(硬X射线、微波暴)与渐变分量(软X射线发射)之间存在的因果关系,即耀斑最初的能量是以加速粒子的形式释放,加速的电子在大气传输过程中产生非热硬X射线轫致辐射,并加热大气,耀斑软X射线发射是高能粒子注入大气的响应.根据经典Neupert效应的定量描述,硬X射线发射(表征非热电子注入)结束时软X射线应该立刻达到极大,但以往的观测发现一些耀斑软X射线峰值时间(t2)明显晚于硬X射线结束时间(t1)(τ=t2–t1,τ 0),热与非热辐射之间存在明显的偏离经典Neupert效应的情况.为了研究偏离经典Neupert效应的事件,在2002—2015年间的RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager)和GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites)耀斑列表中,按照在25–50 keV范围内光变较简单、软X射线有对应发射峰等判据,共选择276个耀斑样本,统计了这些耀斑的τ分布、环长d (用双足点源之间的距离来表征)与τ的关系.结果显示:(1)有227个耀斑τ 0,即有约82%的耀斑偏离经典Neupert效应;(2)τ与d之间存在一定的线性相关,即环越长,软X射线极大的时间越延后;(3)似乎存在一个临界距离,当环长小于临界距离时,经典Neupert效应成立.这些结果印证了修正Neupert效应的必要性,并对其物理意义进行了讨论.     

针对ASO-S/HXI光栅摆放角分布的测试与分析

先进天基太阳天文台(ASO-S)卫星的3大载荷之一硬X射线成像仪(Hard X-ray Imager, HXI)是一套基于傅立叶变换调制成像技术的望远镜.它利用91组不同摆放角和节距的光栅子准直器排列摆布,获得45个基于空间调制的傅立叶变换对,重建太阳耀斑源30–200 keV的硬X射线像,最高分辨率可达3.1′′.在光栅节距已经确定的前提下,它的摆放角分布仍会影响成像质量.通过对HXI仪器傅立叶分量μν分布与点扩散函数(PSF)的空间演化关系分析研究,寻求HXI光栅摆放角的最优分布.其结果将作为改进HXI仪器设计和开发相应科学分析软件的依据.     

欧南台观测钱德拉深空天区

三个欧洲天文学家小组获得了南天一个区域的真彩色,最深的大视场图像。这一成果补充了钱德拉X射线天文台在天炉座方向的南深空天区观测(CDF-S)。CDF-S是1999年曝光100万秒获得的,如此长的曝光足能探测到可以观测到的最暗的X射线源。 新图像是由智利拉西亚天文台的2.2米MPG/ESO望远镜上的大视场成像器(WFI)拍摄的。WFI是用     

Laue diffraction lenses for astrophysics: From theory to experiments

Based on the laws of X-ray diffraction in crystals, Laue lenses offer a promising way to achieve the sensitivity and angular resolution leap required for the next generation of hard X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes.The present paper describes the instrumental responses of Laue diffraction lenses designed for nuclear astrophysics. Different possible geometries are discussed, as well as the corresponding spectral and imaging capabilities. These theoretical predictions are then compared with Monte-Carlo simulations and experimental results (ground and stratospheric observations from the CLAIRE project). PACS 95.55.Ka, 61.50.Ah, 61.10.−i, 41.50.+h     

Hard X-ray imaging via focusing optics with mosaic crystals

In spite of the tremendous potential of hard X-ray astronomy (>10 keV) for studying high energy phenomena in celestial objects, the current generation of direct-viewing telescopes is heavily noise limited. It can accurately study only the strongest sources. Thus focusing of hard X-rays is mandatory in order to overcome these sensitivity limitations. Several focusing techniques of hard X-rays (>10 keV) are under study. We will discuss the Bragg diffraction technique and the imaging performance of a concentrator configuration based on this technique. Apart from its unprecedented flux sensitivity, the Bragg concentrators show intrinsic capabilities as polarimeters.     

Hard X-ray imaging with microchannel plate optics

We investigate, by ray-trace simulation, two hard X-ray telescopes based on microchannel plate (MCP) optics. The first is the, by now well known, lobster-eye geometry, while the second is a novel design. The second design uses a pair of MCPs with square channels packed in a radial fashion and represents a conical approximation to the Wolter type I configuration. We show that such telescopes can provide X-ray imaging at energies up to 100 keV. Effective area may be scaled arbitrarily by co-aligning many MCP optics. As an example, we calculate that 50 parallel Wolter I units each of 60 mm diameter and 5 m focal length yield a sensitivity of 1 milli Crab at 45 keV in a 105 second integration.     

Getting SMARTS on Novae: Highlights of the Early Evolution of Nova V475 Sct

There is a disconcerting global trend of retiring telescopes of modest aperture, supplanting them instead with fewer expensive telescopes of quite large aperture. As a consequence, the available time and feasibility of following transient objects in astrophysics is diminishing. We show the utility of having a suite of small to moderate aperture telescopes capable of conducting imaging and spectroscopic observations in a service queue mode. The example we provide is the high-cadence early observations of the classical nova V475 Scuti (2003) carried out with the SMARTS suite of telescopes located at CTIO.     

伽马天文观测技术综述

伽马射线作为宇宙中极端事件的独特探针,探测伽马射线是人们了解宇宙构成、星体演化和宇宙线起源等的重要途经.伽马天文涉及了宇宙中的各种前沿科学问题并且观测所需能谱跨度极宽(102 keV–102 TeV),针对不同的科学目标和细分谱段,必须利用不同的伽马望远镜探测技术.总结了空间和地面的共5大类伽马射线观测技术,分别是编码孔径望远镜、康普顿望远镜、电子对望远镜、成像大气切伦科夫望远镜和广延大气簇射阵列;回顾了70 yr来在观测设备和技术进步的推动下伽马射线天文学领域的巨大进展,其中包含高能和甚高能谱段取得的大量成就,中低能段由于已有观测任务有限以及灵敏度低,超高能和极高能段由于观测难度大、起步时间晚,数据和成果相对其他谱段产出较少;展望了未来已经规划的伽马望远镜任务、能力及预期科学产出,其中,中低能段空间望远镜增强型ASTROGAM望远镜(e-ASTROGAM)、全天区中能伽马射线观测站(AMEGO)和甚高能段地面望远镜阵列高海拔宇宙线观测站(LHAASO)、切伦科夫望远镜阵列(CTA),由于灵敏度较同谱段已有任务灵敏度有大幅提升,极有可能在20 yr内从不同角度再度扩展人类对伽马宇宙的认知.     

Time variations of hard X-rays from Sco X-1

Simultaneous hard X-ray and optical observations of Sco X-1 were carried out on 1971 May 1 at Hyderabad, India, when Sco X-1 was optically bright. The X-ray intensity observed by balloon-borne counter telescopes increased in coincidence with optical enhancements, while the plasma temperature derived by fitting the X-ray spectrum in the energy range 20–40 keV to the thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum did not appreciably change over the whole period of observation.     

A super-high angular resolution principle for coded-mask X-ray imaging beyond the diffraction limit of a single pinhole

High angular resolution X-ray imaging is always useful in astrophysics and solar physics. In principle, it can be performed by using coded-mask imaging with a very long mask-detector distance. Previously, the diffraction-interference effect was thought to degrade coded-mask imaging performance dramatically at the low energy end with its very long mask-detector distance. The diffraction-interference effect is described with numerical calculations, and the difffraction-interference cross correlation reconstruction method (DICC) is developed in order to overcome the imaging performance degradation. Based on the DICC, a super-high angular resolution principle (SHARP) for coded-mask X-ray imaging is proposed. The feasibility of coded mask imaging beyond the diffraction limit of a single pinhole is demonstrated with simulations. With the specification that the mask element size is 50 × 50 μm2 and the mask-detector distance is 50 m, the achieved angular resolution is 0.32arcsec above about 10keV and 0.36arcsec at 1.24keV (λ = 1 nm), where diffraction cannot be neglected. The on-axis source location accuracy is better than 0.02 arcsec. Potential applications for solar observations and wide-field X-ray monitors are also briefly discussed.     

Hard X-ray emission of the Earth's atmosphere: Monte Carlo simulations

We perform Monte Carlo simulations of cosmic ray-induced hard X-ray radiation from the Earth's atmosphere. We find that the shape of the spectrum emergent from the atmosphere in the energy range 25–300 keV is mainly determined by Compton scatterings and photoabsorption, and is almost insensitive to the incident cosmic ray spectrum. We provide a fitting formula for the hard X-ray surface brightness of the atmosphere as would be measured by a satellite-borne instrument, as a function of energy, solar modulation level, geomagnetic cut-off rigidity and zenith angle. A recent measurement by the INTEGRAL observatory of the atmospheric hard X-ray flux during the occultation of the cosmic X-ray background by the Earth agrees with our prediction within 10 per cent. This suggests that Earth observations could be used for in-orbit calibration of future hard X-ray telescopes. We also demonstrate that the hard X-ray spectra generated by cosmic rays in the crusts of the Moon, Mars and Mercury should be significantly different from that emitted by the Earth's atmosphere.     

MACHETE: A transit imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope to survey half of the very high energy γ-ray sky

Current imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes for very high energy γ-ray astrophysics are pointing instruments with a field of view up to a few tens of sq deg. We propose to build an array of two non-steerable (drift) telescopes. Each of the telescopes would have a camera with a FOV of 5 × 60 sq deg oriented along the meridian. About half of the sky drifts through this FOV in a year. We have performed a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the performance of this instrument. We expect it to survey this half of the sky with an integral flux sensitivity of ∼0.77% of the steady flux of the Crab Nebula in 5 years, an analysis energy threshold of ∼150 GeV and an angular resolution of ∼0.1°. For astronomical objects that transit over the telescope for a specific night, we can achieve an integral sensitivity of 12% of the Crab Nebula flux in a night, making it a very powerful tool to trigger further observations of variable sources using steerable IACTs or instruments at other wavelengths.     

Development of the HEFT and NuSTAR focusing telescopes

Hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray astrophysics is on the verge of a major advance with the practical realization of technologies capable of efficiently focusing X-rays above 10 keV. Hard X-ray focusing telescopes can achieve orders of magnitude improvements in sensitivity compared to the instruments based on coded apertures and collimated detectors that have traditionally been employed in this energy band. Compact focal planes enable high-performance detectors with good spectral resolution to be employed in efficient, low-background configurations. We have developed multilayer coated grazing incidence optics and solid state Cadmium Zinc Telluride focal plane systems for the High Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT) balloon-borne experiment, and for the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Small Explorer satellite. In this paper we describe the technologies, telescope designs, and performance of both experiments.