Post by SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮-𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 For the future #NewAthena X-ray telescope, we are working on the #X-IFU instrument, which uses detectors cooled down to temperatures close to absolute zero (−273°C) to detect individual X-ray photons. At just a few tens of thousandths of a degree above absolute zero, even tiny temperature variations matter. To ensure optimal performance, the temperature of the instrument must be measured with the highest possible accuracy. Researchers at SRON Space Research Organisation Netherlands have now developed a new way to calibrate the onboard thermometers used at these ultra-low temperatures. The method is based on the underlying physics that governs how electrons move through the detector material. By incorporating this physical model into the calibration, the team can determine the temperature more reliably across a wide range, from 40 Kelvin down to about 0.04 Kelvin. The method significantly improves the accuracy at the lowest temperatures, reaching 0.25% at 0.055 Kelvin, precisely where instruments like X-IFU require the most precise temperature knowledge to achieve their full performance. Paper: https://lnkd.in/eh48-AA5 Emanuele Taralli Sven Visser Roland den Hartog Paul van der Hulst #NewAthena #XIFU #XrayAstronomy #SpaceInstrumentation #SpaceResearch #sronspace