ATHENA X-IFU Demonstration Model: First joint operation of the main TES Array and its Cryogenic AntiCoincidence Detector (CryoAC)

TL;DR

This paper reports the first successful joint operation of the ATHENA X-IFU's TES microcalorimeter array and its Cryogenic AntiCoincidence detector, demonstrating their combined functionality and background reduction capability in a demonstration model setup.

Contribution

It presents the first combined testing of the X-IFU TES array and CryoAC detectors, confirming their operational compatibility and anti-coincidence performance.

Findings

Successful joint operation of TES array and CryoAC demonstrated.

Preliminary evidence of cosmic muon detection for background reduction.

System functions as intended in demonstration setup.

Abstract

The X-IFU is the cryogenic spectrometer onboard the future ATHENA X-ray observatory. It is based on a large array of TES microcalorimeters, which works in combination with a Cryogenic AntiCoincidence detector (CryoAC). This is necessary to reduce the particle background level thus enabling part of the mission science goals. Here we present the first joint test of X-IFU TES array and CryoAC Demonstration Models, performed in a FDM setup. We show that it is possible to operate properly both detectors, and we provide a preliminary demonstration of the anti-coincidence capability of the system achieved by the simultaneous detection of cosmic muons.