AI 中文总结
该研究研发了一种兼具光谱与计时能力的焦平面X射线偏振计原型，基于Ar/DME气体和Timepix3读出ASIC，可在2-30 keV波段实现高灵敏度偏振测量，适配未来高能天体物理观测任务。
AI 中文摘要
NASA-ASI的成像X射线偏振探测器Explorer（IXPE）任务已将X射线偏振测量确立为高能天体物理学的核心观测支柱，与成像、计时和光谱学并列。IXPE在2-8 keV能量范围内对点状和延展X射线源取得了突破性发现，但IXPE上的气体像素探测器需大幅改进才能适配下一代成像X射线偏振计。本文介绍了一种探测器原型的研发，该原型可在2-30 keV能量波段实现下一代高灵敏度成像X射线偏振测量。我们采用基于Ar/DME的气体体积，通过光电效应吸收X射线，并使用具备出色计时能力的像素化CMOS读出专用集成电路Timepix3，对产生的光电子径迹进行三维成像。Timepix3与名为InGrid的倍增级集成，可实现气体体积中单初始电子的探测。三维重建的光电子径迹提升了最低可操作能量下的偏振灵敏度，且该ASIC的无死时间操作使其可作为焦平面仪器用于高通量X射线望远镜。通过该原型，我们验证了一种兼具出色计时与中等光谱能力的中低能X射线偏振计。
英文摘要
The NASA-ASI mission Imaging X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE) firmly established X-ray polarimetry as a core observation pillar of high-energy astrophysics, alongside imaging, timing, and spectroscopy. While IXPE made groundbreaking discoveries in the 2$-$8 keV range on both point and extended X-ray sources, the Gas Pixel Detectors onboard IXPE demand substantial improvements to be ready for the next generation of imaging X-ray polarimeters. Here, we present the development of a detector prototype that can deliver the next generation of sensitive imaging X-ray polarimetry across the energy band of 2--30 keV. We use Ar/DME based gas volume to absorb X-rays by the photoelectric effect and a pixelated CMOS readout ASIC, Timepix3, with excellent timing capabilities to image the resulting photoelectron track in three dimensions. The Timepix3 is integrated with a multiplication stage called InGrid that enables single-primary-electron detection from the gas volume. The photoelectron track reconstructed in three dimensions increases the polarimetric sensitivity towards the lowest operable energies, and the deadtime-free operation of the ASIC facilitates the usage as a focal plane instrument on high-throughput X-ray mirrors. With this prototype, we demonstrate a low-medium-energy X-ray polarimeter with excellent timing and moderate spectral capabilities.
CommentsTo appear in the proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026
