Characterization of the x-ray telescope after the first flight of XL-Calibur

• X-ray polarization measurements can provide unique information that is complementary to that obtained through spectroscopic or imaging observations. However, there have been few cases where significant X-ray polarization has been observed. XL-Calibur, conducted in collaboration between Japan, the United States of America, and Sweden, is a balloon-borne mission that aims to conduct high-sensitivity polarimetric observations in the hard X-ray band from 15 to 80 keV. The Japanese group is in charge of developing the hard X-ray telescope (HXT) with high light-gathering power. Optical adjustments were completed in 2020, and the performance of the HXT was measured in June 2021 at the SPring-8 (synchrotron radiation facility in Hyogo, Japan). Subsequently, in July 2022, the first observation was conducted from Sweden to Canada. After the flight, the HXT was recovered, and we measured its performance again. By comparing the HXT performances before and after the flight, we found no significant changes that can affect the second flight scheduled in 2024.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

polarimetry

X-ray astronomy

X-ray telescope

XL-Calibur

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)