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H. W. Schnopper (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory), M. Barbera (Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo Giuseppe S. Vaiana), E. H. Silver, S. S. Murray (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
We present new results from a program to develop large area X-ray telescopes that are made from thin plastic shells. We use multi-shell cylindrical lenses in a point-to-point configuration to form full aperture images of the small focal spot in an X-ray tube on a microchannel plate detector. The image data are analyzed to yield radial profiles and encircled energy curves. The derived parameters (FWHM and HEW) can be extrapolated to the case of a telescope that is a conical approximation to Wolter 1 optics. The plastic shells can be coated with suitable mono- or multilayers that allow for a wideband coverage of X-ray energies. Our current program is focused on the development of a large area, hard X-ray telescope for a balloon payload (B-MINE). Our goal is to detect the 68 and 78 keV 44Ti lines from the CAS-A supernova remnant. The B-MINE microcalorimeter detector has a 50 eV (FWHM) energy resolution and almost no internal bakground. This combination of a low background and a narrow FWHM detector allows us to distinguish between narrow and broad emission lines. We use the SAX CAS-A results to predict a B-MINE detection of 70 sigma at 68 keV.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.