The STROBE-X Low Energy Modular Array (LEMA) Instrument

TL;DR

The LEMA instrument on STROBE-X is a high-sensitivity, non-imaging X-ray detector designed for spectral-timing studies of celestial sources in the 0.2-12 keV range, significantly surpassing previous missions in photon collection.

Contribution

This paper introduces the LEMA instrument, a novel large-area, high-throughput X-ray detector for the STROBE-X mission, enhancing spectral-timing capabilities.

Findings

Effective area of 16,000 cm² at 1.5 keV

Energy resolution of 85 eV at 1 keV

Designed for spectral-timing of X-ray sources

Abstract

The Low Energy Modular Array (LEMA) is one of three instruments that compose the STROBE-X mission concept. The LEMA is a large effective-area, high throughput, non-imaging pointed instrument based on the X-ray Timing Instrument of the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission. The LEMA is designed for spectral-timing measurements of a variety of celestial X-ray sources, providing a transformative increase in sensitivity to photons in the 0.2-12 keV energy range compared to past missions, with an effective area (at 1.5 keV) of 16,000 cm$^2$ and an energy resolution of 85 eV at 1 keV.