Micro-X Sounding Rocket Payload Re-flight Progress

TL;DR

This paper reports on the progress of the Micro-X sounding rocket payload re-flight, including detector system improvements and initial laboratory results, aiming to achieve successful space operation of a TES X-ray microcalorimeter array.

Contribution

It introduces modifications to the detector systems, including a new SQUID circuit, and presents initial laboratory results for the re-flight of the Micro-X payload.

Findings

Successful operation of the detector system in laboratory tests

Improved noise performance and magnetic susceptibility reduction

Preparation for the scheduled re-flight in summer 2022

Abstract

Micro-X is an X-ray sounding rocket payload that had its first flight on July 22, 2018. The goals of the first flight were to operate a transition edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter array in space and take a high-resolution spectrum of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. The first flight was considered a partial success. The array and its time-division multiplexing readout system were successfully operated in space, but due to a failure in the attitude control system, no time on-target was acquired. A re-flight has been scheduled for summer 2022. Since the first flight, modifications have been made to the detector systems to improve noise and reduce the susceptibility to magnetic fields. The three-stage SQUID circuit, NIST MUX06a, has been replaced by a two-stage SQUID circuit, NIST MUX18b. The initial laboratory results for the new detector system will be presented in this paper.