As a novel X-ray focusing technology, lobster-eye micropore optics (MPO) feature both a wide observing field of view and true imaging capability, promising sky monitoring with significantly improved sensitivity and spatial resolution in soft X-rays. Since first proposed by Angel, the optics have been extensively studied, developed and trialed over the past decades. In this Letter, we report on the first-light results from a flight experiment of the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy, a pathfinder of the wide-field X-ray telescope of the Einstein Probe mission. The piggyback imager, launched in 2022 July, has a mostly unvignetted field of view of 18.°6 × 18.°6. Its spatial resolution is in the range of 4′–7′ in FWHM and the focal spot effective area is 2–3 cm2, both showing only mild fluctuations across the field of view. We present images of the Galactic center region, Sco X-1, and the diffuse Cygnus Loop nebular taken in snapshot observations over 0.5–4 keV. These are truly wide-field X-ray images of celestial bodies observed, for the first time, by a focusing imaging telescope. Initial analyses of the in-flight data show excellent agreement between the observed images and the on-ground calibration and simulations. The instrument and its characterization are briefly described, as well as the flight experiment. The results provide a solid basis for the development of the present and proposed wide-field X-ray missions using lobster-eye MPO.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aca32f/pdf

First Wide Field-of-view X-Ray Observations by a Lobster-eye Focusing Telescope in Orbit

Volatiles and refractories represent the two end-members in the volatility range of species in any surface-bounded exosphere. Volatiles include elements that do not interact strongly with the surface, such as neon (detected on the Moon) and helium (detected both on the Moon and at Mercury), but also argon, a noble gas (detected on the Moon) that surprisingly adsorbs at the cold lunar nighttime surface. Refractories include species such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum, all of which have very strong bonds with the lunar surface and thus need energetic processes to be ejected into the exosphere. Here we focus on the properties of species that have been detected in the exospheres of inner Solar System bodies, specifically the Moon and Mercury, and how they provide important information to understand source and loss processes of these exospheres, as well as their dependence on variations in external drivers.

/pdf/volatiles-and-refractories-in-surface-bounded-exospheres-in-3jq6s4arfc.pdf

Volatiles and Refractories in Surface-Bounded Exospheres in the Inner Solar System

The lifecycle of hollows on Mercury: An evaluation of candidate volatile phases and a novel model of formation

The first maps of electron-induced X-ray emission from the dayside of Mercury's surface are presented, generated by the development of a solar X-ray flux filter. This enables the isolation of the X-ray fluorescence of calcium driven by probable electron precipitation. A catalog of such events has been generated and dayside maps of implied electron precipitation zones have been produced. We find that, similar to electron induced emission events on the nightside, these zones are strongly organized by latitude and magnetic local time. The majority of the dayside events appear in the southern hemisphere and there is a strong enhancement observed centered about local dawn (06:00 LT). There is apparent poleward continuation of emission in the north, but very few events were observed on the duskward hemisphere. These results carry implications for Mercury's magnetosphere by constraining zones of electron precipitation, for the exosphere as a potential source of exospheric species, and for surface science as an additional source of X-ray fluorescence. 

MESSENGER X‐Ray Observations of Electron Precipitation on the Dayside of Mercury

The DePFET is a sensor amplifier structure first proposed in 1987. In recent years, DeFPET based sensors have been deployed for particle tracking at Belle II experiment and been launched into space aboard the planetary science mission BepiColombo in its MIXS instrument. In the future DePFETs are proposed for the Wide Field Imager aboard the ATHENA satellite and developed for use as real-time imager for transmission electron microscopes These sensors have all been tailored to the needs of the respective application, providing high frame rates and accurate position resolution for tracking, Fano-limited energy resolution and position resolution matched to telescopes for X-ray spectroscopy or high frame rates and maximized dynamic range for applications on TEMs. In addition to this, several DePFET based concepts, implementing additional functionality on pixel level have been tested in recent years. Among these are the tailoring of the internal gates shape to implement a non-linear signal response and provide a larger dynamic range or a drastic increase of the DePFETs amplification. Furthermore, super pixels providing capabilities to reach sub electron noise and single electron resolution through repetitive readout, a fast electronic shutter at pixel level and the realization of multiple storage regions within one pixel have been tested. It was further demonstrated, that combinations of these features can also be realized. Over all, it is noted that advances in DePFET technology will provide sensors that are optimally tailored to the need of a specific application.

DePFET—Recent Developments and Future Prospects

The Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer is a highly novel instrument that is designed to map Mercury’s elemental composition from orbit at two angular resolutions. By observing the fluorescence X-rays generated when solar-coronal X-rays and charged particles interact with the surface regolith, MIXS will be able to measure the atomic composition of the upper ∼10-20 μm of Mercury’s surface on the day-side. Through precipitating particles on the night-side, MIXS will also determine the dynamic interaction of the planet’s surface with the surrounding space environment. MIXS is composed of two complementary elements: MIXS-C is a collimated instrument which will achieve global coverage at a similar spatial resolution to that achieved (in the northern hemisphere only – i.e. ∼ 50 – 100 km) by MESSENGER; MIXS-T is the first ever X-ray telescope to be sent to another planet and will, during periods of high solar activity (or intense precipitation of charged particles), reveal the X-ray flux from Mercury at better than 10 km resolution. The design, performance, scientific goals and operations plans of the instrument are discussed, including the initial results from commissioning in space.

/pdf/the-bepicolombo-mercury-imaging-x-ray-spectrometer-science-3gl6f6d3ii.pdf

The BepiColombo Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer: Science Goals, Instrument Performance and Operations

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The BepiColombo Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer: Science Goals, Instrument Performance and Operations