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E.D. Miller, M.W. Bautz (MIT), Suzaku Team
The X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) is the CCD imager aboard Suzaku (Astro-E2), the joint Japanese-US X-ray observatory launched in July 2005 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. This instrument features several unique capabilities, most notably the low-energy performance of the back-illuminated (BI) CCD, which combines exceptional sensitivity with superior spectral resolution compared to previously-flown BI CCDs. Here we describe the initial on-orbit performance of the instrument, including long observations of the cosmic X-ray and particle background, along with several calibration sources. We use these early results to compare the instrument's capabilities with those of Chandra and XMM/Newton, and to identify lines of scientific inquiry in which the Suzaku XIS will excel.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.