10 research outputs found
Insight-HXMT on-orbit thermal control status and thermal deformation impact analysis
Purpose: The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope is China's first X-ray astronomy
satellite launched on June 15th, 2017, dubbed Insight-HXMT. Active and passive
thermal control measures are employed to keep devices at suitable temperatures.
In this paper, we analyzed the on-orbit thermal monitoring data of the first 5
years and investigated the effect of thermal deformation on the point spread
function (PSF) of the telescopes.
Methods: We examined the data of the on-orbit temperatures measured using 157
thermistors placed on the collimators, detectors and their support structures
and compared the results with the thermal control requirements. The thermal
deformation was evaluated by the relative orientation of the two star sensors
installed on the main support structure. its effect was estimated with
evolution of the PSF obtained with calibration scanning observations of the
Crab nebula.
Conclusion: The on-orbit temperatures met the thermal control requirements
thus far, and the effect of thermal deformation on the PSF was negligible after
the on-orbit pointing calibration.Comment: 25 pages, 35 figures, submitte
Insight-HXMT observations of Swift J0243.6+6124 during its 2017-2018 outburst
The recently discovered neutron star transient Swift J0243.6+6124 has been
monitored by {\it the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope} ({\it Insight-\rm HXMT).
Based on the obtained data, we investigate the broadband spectrum of the source
throughout the outburst. We estimate the broadband flux of the source and
search for possible cyclotron line in the broadband spectrum. No evidence of
line-like features is, however, found up to . In the absence of
any cyclotron line in its energy spectrum, we estimate the magnetic field of
the source based on the observed spin evolution of the neutron star by applying
two accretion torque models. In both cases, we get consistent results with
, and peak luminosity of which makes the source the first Galactic ultraluminous
X-ray source hosting a neutron star.Comment: publishe
Overview to the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) Satellite
As China's first X-ray astronomical satellite, the Hard X-ray Modulation
Telescope (HXMT), which was dubbed as Insight-HXMT after the launch on June 15,
2017, is a wide-band (1-250 keV) slat-collimator-based X-ray astronomy
satellite with the capability of all-sky monitoring in 0.2-3 MeV. It was
designed to perform pointing, scanning and gamma-ray burst (GRB) observations
and, based on the Direct Demodulation Method (DDM), the image of the scanned
sky region can be reconstructed. Here we give an overview of the mission and
its progresses, including payload, core sciences, ground calibration/facility,
ground segment, data archive, software, in-orbit performance, calibration,
background model, observations and some preliminary results.Comment: 29 pages, 40 figures, 6 tables, to appear in Sci. China-Phys. Mech.
Astron. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1910.0443
The enhanced x-ray timing and polarimetry mission – eXTP: an update on its scientific cases, mission profile and development status
The enhanced x-ray timing and polarimetry mission (eXTP) is a flagship observatory for x-ray timing, spectroscopy and polarimetry developed by an international consortium. Thanks to its very large collecting area, good spectral resolution and unprecedented polarimetry capabilities, eXTP will explore the properties of matter and the propagation of light in the most extreme conditions found in the universe. eXTP will, in addition, be a powerful x-ray observatory. The mission will continuously monitor the x-ray sky, and will enable multi-wavelength and multi-messenger studies. The mission is currently in phase B, which will be completed in the middle of 2022