September 30, 1999
September Report
Better energy resolution at lower energies is achieved
The group at NIST has demonstrated an energy resolution of 2 eV at low energy (1.5 keV) using a single pixel X-ray microcalorimeter. The device is based on an Al/Ag Transition Edge Sensor (TES) with a Bi absorber. A resolution of 4.5 eV at 5.9 keV has been attained with a single pixel Mo/Cu TES without an absorber.
GSFC team improves X-ray optics
The GSFC team has recently measured a 7 arc-second figure on new replicated glass substrates for Segmented X-ray optics. This is a factor of eight better than ASTRO-E!
Improvements in hard X-ray detector technology
Cal tech has demonstrated a new, custom ASIC/CdZnTe detector with 980 eV FWHM resolution at 60 keV. This is a factor of 3 improvement over any existing pixel detector.
Facility Science Team meets in October at SAO
Constellation-X FST will meet on October 14-15 at SAO. The meeting will be held in the 1st Floor Auditorium of the Draper Building - 1 Hampshire Street, Cambridge Massachusetts. This is an open meeting.
Outreach and Education
As part of the outreach and education effort, a Constellation X-ray Observatory booklet aimed at non-scientists has recently been published.
