The monochromatic X-rays facilities at NIM

TL;DR

The paper describes the development and performance of monochromatic X-ray facilities at NIM, used for calibrating space satellite detectors to support China's space exploration and X-ray astronomy research.

Contribution

It introduces new monochromatic X-ray facilities based on grating and Bragg diffraction with high stability and accuracy for satellite calibration.

Findings

Energy stability better than 1% over 8 hours

Monochromaticity better than 3%

Calibration of two satellites completed

Abstract

Space scientific exploration is becoming the main battlefield for mankind to explore the universe. Countries around the world have successively launched various space exploration satellites. Accurate calibration on the ground is a key factor for space science satellites to obtain observational results. In order to provide calibration for various satellite-borne detectors, several monochromatic X-rays facilities has been built at National Institute of Metrology, P.R. China (NIM). These facilities are mainly based on grating diffraction and Bragg diffraction, the energy range of produced monochromatic X-rays is (0.218-301) keV. The facilities have a good performance on energy stability, monochromaticity and flux stability. Monochromaticity of all facilities is better than 3.0%, the stability of energy is better than 1.0% over 8 hours, and the stability of flux is better than 2.0% over 8 hours. The calibration experiments of satellite-borne detectors, such as energy linearity, energy resolution, detection efficiency and temperature response can be carried out on the facilities. So far we have completed the calibration of two satellites, and there are still three satellites in progress. This work will contribute to the development of X-ray astronomy, and contribute to the development of Chinese space science.