XMM-NEWTON HARDWARE IMAGES - EPIC DETECTORS
EPIC MOS Array
This picture shows the mechanical assembly of the MOS CCD array. The central CCD is on-axis, and the surrounding 6 CCDs are set above the central device to better approximate the curved focal plane surface. The field of view covered by each CCD is about 10 arc minutes square. Each CCD can be removed from the assembly and the picture shows the flexible printed circuit used to connect the CCD to the external electronics.
EPIC PN Front
The picture shows the non-exposed side of the pn CCD array. The 12 CCDs can clearly be seen in the center of the wafer. The circles around it contain some diodes which are used for monitoring during the production process. The front-end electronics are located at the outside ends of each CCD, i.e. at the top and bottom of the image.
EPIC PN Back
The picture shows the exposed side of the pn CCD array. The 12 CCDs are arranged below the square in the center of the wafer. The circles around it contain some diodes which are used for monitoring during the production process.
EPIC PN circuitry
The ESA X-ray observatory XMM-Newton and the ABRIXAS follow-up mission to ROSAT operate with X-ray CCDs. This picture shows the power and read-out electronics for the 12 CCDs of the pn camera used for both XMM-Newton and ABRIXAS. The opening in the mounting plate provides a view of the back side of the CCD mounting.
XMM-Newton and ABRIXAS CCD camera
The ESA X-ray satellite XMM-Newton and the ROSAT successor ABRIXAS are both be equipped with a CCD X-ray camera as focal plane detector developed at the MPI solid-state laboratory. The camera was installed in the PANTER facility to test its properties. The picture shows the rear side of the camera with its electronics and cooling junction attached to a movable manipulator inside the PANTER vacuum tank.
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