{"id":3946,"date":"2025-09-29T15:09:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T13:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/x-ifu.irap.omp.eu\/?p=3946"},"modified":"2025-09-30T11:59:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T09:59:40","slug":"assembly-of-demonstration-model-for-x-ifus-camera-is-now-complete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/x-ifu.irap.omp.eu\/fr\/announcement\/assembly-of-demonstration-model-for-x-ifus-camera-is-now-complete","title":{"rendered":"Assembly of Demonstration Model for X-IFU\u2019s camera is now complete"},"content":{"rendered":"

SRON is responsible for building the camera for the X-IFU imaging spectrometer onboard the NewAthena X-ray space telescope. A latest Demonstration Model has now been successfully assembled in SRON\u2019s cleanroom and is mounted into a cryogenic test setup which cools the detector stage to a temperature of 50 milliKelvin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the late 30s , ESA plans the launch of its NewAthena X-ray telescope. It is equipped with two instruments: the Wide Field Imager (WFI) for images of larger fractions of the universe and the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) for detailed recordings with high spectral resolution. SRON delivers the X-ray camera for X-IFU, which is cooled down to 50 mKelvins by other parts of the instrument. This so-called Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) includes a thermal suspension of the detector, magnetic shielding, and cold electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The X-IFU aims to further expand our knowledge of supermassive black holes and hot gas structures in the universe, using over fifteen hundred pixels and a spectral resolution of less than 4.0 eV: a huge leap in spectral mapping and sensitivity compared to existing X-ray instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Demonstration Model for the camera of the X-IFU instrument is mounted in a cryostat to test its performance in combination with representative cold electronics. <\/em>
Image credit: SRON \/ Claudia van Oostrum. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Demonstration Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SRON engineers have now assembled a Demonstration Model of X-IFU’s camera in their cleanroom and placed it in a cryostat to test its performance in combination with representative cold electronics. During these tests, the detector stage is kept an operating temperature of 50 milliKelvin, or 50 thousandths of a degree above absolute zero. Space instruments are often developed in multiple stages running from Demonstration Model, Engineering Model and Qualification model before the final Flight Model is assembled. A successful Demonstration Model thus brings us a big step closer to launch!<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Demonstration Model for the camera of the X-IFU instrument is mounted in a cryostat to test its performance in combination with representative cold electronics. <\/em>
Image credit: SRON \/ Claudia van Oostrum. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Further Resource<\/h2>\n\n\n\n