Measuring the Cosmic X-ray Background accurately

TL;DR

This paper proposes a CubeSat-based detector to measure the Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB) with high precision, aiming to resolve uncertainties in current measurements and improve understanding of the AGN population.

Contribution

It introduces a novel CubeSat detector concept and simulation results demonstrating potential for highly accurate CXB measurements in space.

Findings

Potential to measure CXB normalization with ~1% uncertainty

Simulation results show feasibility of the detector concept

Addresses current background and calibration challenges

Abstract

Synthesis models of the diffuse Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB) suggest that it can be resolved into discrete sources, primarily Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). Measuring the CXB accurately offers a unique probe to study the AGN population in the nearby Universe. Current hard X-ray instruments suffer from the time-dependent background and cross-calibration issues. As a result, their measurements of the CXB normalization have an uncertainty of the order of $\sim$15%. In this paper, we present the concept and simulated performances of a CXB detector, which could be operated on different platforms. With a 16-U CubeSat mission running for more than two years in space, such a detector could measure the CXB normalization with $\sim$1% uncertainty.