SmallSat solar axion and activity x-ray imager (SSAXI)
Name
1111810.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
3 MB
Format
Unknown
Checksum (MD5)
b261a37fd688d3e9c086acbbd32e9901
Author(s)
Hong, JaeSub E
Romaine, Suzanne
Kenter, Almus T
Moore, Christopher S
Reeves, Katharine
Ramsey, Brian D
Kilaru, Kiranmayee
Vogel, Julia K
Ruz Armendariz, Jaime
Hudson, Hugh H
Date Issued
2019
Journal
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Publisher
SPIE-Intl Soc Optical Eng
Version
Final published version
Abstract
© COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only. Axion is a promising dark matter candidate as well as a solution to the strong charge-parity (CP) problem in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). We describe a new concept for SmallSat Solar Axion and Activity X-ray Telescope (SSAXI) to search for solar axions or axion-like particles (ALPs) and to monitor solar activity over a wide dynamic range. SSAXI aims to unambiguously identify X-rays converted from axions in the solar magnetic field along the line of sight to the solar core, effectively imaging the solar core. SSAXI employs Miniature lightweight Wolter-I focusing X-ray optics (MiXO) and monolithic CMOS X-ray sensors in a compact package. The wide energy range (0.5-5 keV) of SSAXI can easily distinguish spectra of axion-converted X-rays from solar X-ray spectra, while encompassing the prime energy band (3-4.5 keV) of axion-converted X-rays. The high angular resolution (30 arcsec) and large field of view (40 arcmin) in SSAXI will easily resolve the enhanced X-ray flux over the 3 arcmin wide solar core while fully covering the X-ray activity over the entire solar disc. The fast readout in the inherently radiation tolerant CMOS X-ray sensors enables high resolution spectroscopy over a wide dynamic range with a broad range of operational temperatures. We present multiple mission implementation options for SSAXI under ESPA class. SSAXI will operate in a Sun-synchronous orbit for 1 yr preferably near a solar minimum to accumulate sufficient X-ray photon statistics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2529781
