The Modular X- and Gamma-Ray Sensor (MXGS)of the ASIM Payload on the International Space Station

TL;DR

The MXGS instrument on the ISS is a modular X- and Gamma-ray sensor designed to image and analyze high-energy atmospheric phenomena like TGFs, contributing to space-based lightning research.

Contribution

This paper introduces the MXGS instrument as part of the ASIM payload, highlighting its modular design and its role in studying lightning-related high-energy emissions from space.

Findings

First space-based imaging of TGFs with spectral data

Successful integration of MXGS with other ASIM instruments

Enhanced understanding of lightning-related high-energy phenomena

Abstract

The Modular X- and Gamma-ray Sensor (MXGS) is an imaging and spectral X- and Gamma-ray instrument mounted on the starboard side of the Columbus module on the International Space Station. Together with the Modular Multi-Spectral Imaging Assembly (MMIA) (Chanrion et al. this issue) MXGS constitutes the instruments of the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) (Neubert et al. this issue). The main objectives of MXGS are to image and measure the spectrum of X- and $\gamma$-rays from lightning discharges, known as Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs), and for MMIA to image and perform high speed photometry of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) and lightning discharges. With these two instruments specifically designed to explore the relation between electrical discharges, TLEs and TGFs, ASIM is the first mission of its kind.