Abstract. The EPIC focal plane imaging spectrometers on XMM-Newton use CCDs to record the images and spectra of celestial X-ray sources focused by the three X-ray mirrors. There is one camera at the focus of each mirror; two of the cameras contain seven MOS CCDs, while the third uses twelve PN CCDs, defining a circular field of view of 30 diameter in each case. The CCDs were specially developed for EPIC, and combine high quality imaging with spectral resolution close to the Fano limit. A filter wheel carrying three kinds of X-ray transparent light blocking filter, a fully closed, and a fully open position, is fitted to each EPIC instrument. The CCDs are cooled passively and are under full closed loop thermal control. A radio-active source is fitted for internal calibration. Data are processed on-board to save telemetry by removing cosmic ray tracks, and generating X-ray event files; a variety of different instrument modes are available to increase the dynamic range of the instrument and to enable fast timing. The instruments were calibrated using laboratory X-ray beams, and synchrotron generated monochromatic X-ray beams before launch; in-orbit calibration makes use of a variety of celestial X-ray targets. The current calibration is better than 10% over the entire energy range of 0.2 to 10 keV. All three instruments survived launch and are performing nominally in orbit. In particular full field-of-view coverage is available, all electronic modes work, and the energy resolution is close to pre-launch values. Radiation damage is well within pre-launch predictions and does not yet impact on the energy resolution. The scientific results from EPIC amply fulfil pre-launch expectations.
Abstract. The ISO Data Archive (IDA) and the XMM-Newton Science Archive (XSA) have been developed by the Science Operations and Data Systems Division of ESA in Villafranca, Spain. They are both built using the same flexible and modular 3-tier architecture: Data Products and Database, Business Logic, User Interface. This open architecture, together with Java and XML technology have helped in making the IDA and XSA inter-operable with other archives and applications. The various accesses from the IDA and the XSA to remote archives are described as well as the mechanism to directly access these ESA archives from remote archives Open and Flexible 3-Tier ArchitectureThe IDA and the XSA were both built-by a common team-using the open 3-tier architecture described in Figure 1. The main goal of this architecture is to separate the data from the presentation, which allows a more modular and flexible development.As the data volume is not that big, data are saved on magnetic disks for fast access as a normal UNIX file system. From the data products, metadata is extracted and put in a Relational Data Base, SYBASE. Note that the data ingestion from the data producer and the metadata extraction are separate processes to allow new metadata data extraction when user requirements evolve.The middle tier, also called the Business Logic, provides transparent access to the data products and to the metadata. This key layer has been developed in Java and XML and resides on the archive server.On the client side, several types of applications can be found. The standard IDA and XSA User Interface is a Java applet downloaded by the end user to access the archive content.Remote applications and other archives can also have access to the data and the metadata, bypassing the standard User Interface, by speaking to the Business Logic that will provide them with the required services via Java Server Pages.This architecture is especially powerful in the context of the worldwide Virtual Observatory initiatives where archives will all have to interoperate in a manner transparent to the end user. 47
Downloaded From: http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 06/15/2016 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx ABSTRACTThe instrumentation on the 60kg Beagle 2 lander for ESA'S 2003 Mars Express mission will be described. Beagle 2 will be search for organic material on and below the surface of Mars in addition to a study of the inorganic chemistry and mineralogy of the landing site. The lander will utilise acquisition and preparation tools to obtain samples from below the surface, and both under and inside rocks. In situ analysis will include examination of samples with an optical microscope, Mossbauer and fluorescent X-ray spectrometers. Extracted samples will be returned to the lander for analysis, in particular a search for organics and a measurement of their isotopic composition. The experiment configuration and design will be described along with the status of the project.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.