HEX-P is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high angular resolution (⪅ 5 ′′ at 6 keV) x-ray imaging and broad energy sensitivity (0.2 − 80 keV) to enable revolutionary new insights into black holes, neutron stars, and other extreme environments powering the high energy universe. HEX-P prioritizes broad band imagery and high resolution simultaneously, providing a wealth of information not possible with any other planned or operating observatory. HEX-P achieves its breakthrough performance by combining technologies developed by experienced partners: high resolution low energy imagery with silicon segmented mirrors provided by the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC, Greenbelt, MD); state of the art high energy imagery from nickel shell mirror technology developed by Media Lario (Bosisio Parini, Italy) and the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF, Merate, Italy) through a contribution from the Italian Space Agency (ASI, Rome, Italy); high speed, high resolution Depleted P-Channel Field Effect Transistor (DEPFET) detectors through a contribution from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE, Garching, Germany); photon counting high energy detectors from the NuSTAR team at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech, Pasadena CA); and a spacecraft and payload structure with a 20 m deployable boom developed by Northrop Grumman (Falls Church, VA).
Recent developments in millimeter-wave receiver have enabled new remote sensing capabilities. MMIC circuits
operating at frequencies as high as 200 GHz have enabled low-cost mass producible integrated receivers suitable for
array applications. We will describe several ground-based demonstrations of this technology including development of
integrated spectral line receivers for atmospheric remote sensing, a synthetic thinned aperture radiometer for atmospheric
sounding and imaging and polarimetric array radiometers for astrophysics applications.
We have developed amplifier based receivers using Indium Phosphide
high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) monolithic microwave
integrated circuit (MMIC) technology. These compact receivers are
designed with atmospheric temperature and humidity sounding
requirements in mind, operating at 100-125 GHz around the 118 GHz
oxygen line, and at 160-185GHz near the 183 GHz water line, with
average noise temperatures of 1600 and 1200K respectively. They are
intended for applications where small volume and power consumption are critical. We will present laboratory data on the noise temperature of these receivers operated at room temperature and preliminary field data.
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