Stury of interstellar and intergalactic media based on X-ray line spectra

本研究的目的是观测宇宙中扩展热等离子体的X射线辐射并研究其动力学演化。研究活动包括四个领域：星系和星系团的X射线观测研究，宇宙等离子体的理论研究，Astro-E2上微量热计仪器的建造和测试，以及为未来的光谱观测开发TES微量热计系统。在X射线观测中，ASCA和Chandra揭示了许多星系团都经历了基于明亮系统的温度和金属丰度分布的合并。人们希望Astro-E2将探测到许多星系团中的重要气体运动。我们已经提出了一个专门的小型X射线使命调查温暖的热星系际介质使用氧发射线与一个阵列的TES量热计。对团簇气体的可能热源进行了理论研究。Astro-E2的微量热计已经生产出来，地面测试表明，大多数像素的能量分辨率高达6 eV。我们还参与了滤光轮的制作和软件系统的开发。我们还与早稻田大学、精工仪器和三菱重工合作开发了TES热量计阵列。对于单个像素TES，我们实现了6 eV的能量分辨率，接近世界纪录，并制作了一个测试模型的阵列传感器与256个像素，成功地产生X射线信号。我们还开发了一个小型绝热退磁制冷机系统，能够在实验室外进行量热计测试。另一种新型的仪器，磁量热计，也被开发出来，并产生5.5 MeV的α粒子信号。

The purpose of this research is to observe X-ray emission from extended hot plasmas in the universe and to study their dynamical evolution. The research activity consists of four areas : observational study of galaxies and clusters of galaxies in X-rays, theoretical study of cosmic plasmas, building and testing of microcalorimeter instrument on-board Astro-E2, and development of TES microcalorimeter system for future spectroscopic observations. In the X-ray observation, ASCA and Chandra revealed that many clusters have experienced mergers based on the temperature and metallicity distribution of bright systems. It is hoped that Astro-E2 will detect significant gas motion in many clusters of galaxies. We have proposed a dedicated small X-ray mission to survey warm-hot intergalactic medium using Oxygen emission lines with an array of TES calorimeters. Theoretical study on the possible heat source for the cluster gas was performed. Microcalorimeters for Astro-E2 have been produced, and the ground tests showed that most of the pixels have energy resolution as good as 6 eV. We also contributed fabrication of filter wheel and software system. We also developed TES calorimeter array in collaboration with Waseda University, Seiko Instruments and Mitsubishi Heavy Industory. For a single pixel TES, we achieved energy resolution of 6 eV, close to the world record, and fabricated a test model of the array sensor with 256 pixels, which produced X-ray signals successfully. We also developed a small adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator system capable for calorimeter testings outside of the laboratory. Another new type of instrument, magnetic calorimeters, was also developed and produced signals to 5.5 MeV alpha particles.