2000/05/23 by M. J. Pivovaroff, Pivovaroff, Michael
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0005462
openalex publication_date 2000/05/23 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
(ABRIDGED) This dissertation concerns the use of CCDs for for X-ray astronomy. Part I of this thesis focuses on the calibration of the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS), one of the two primary focal plane instruments on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. I begin by presenting a series of measurements made using undispersed synchrotron radiation. I analyzed the results of these experiments to extract parameters necessary to model the absolute detection efficiency of CCDs used as reference standards for ACIS characterization. I also discuss a novel "mesh" technique I pioneered to non-destructively measure the sub-pixel structure of CCDs, including the channel stops and gates. Guided by the results of the mesh experiments, I performed additional measurements to constrain recombination effects in the channel stops. Part II of this thesis concerns the X-ray properties of rotation- powered (radio) pulsars. High energy observations serve as a powerful diagnostic of the energetics and emission mechanisms of neutron stars. I analyze ASCA and ROSAT observations of three young pulsars which are particularly well-suited for addressing these issues. I also present observations of the rotation-powered pulsar with the highest known magnetic field, and describe how the results relate to anomalous X-ray pulsars, another type of neutron star. Finally, I analyze Chandra observations of the supernova remnant Cas A. These data fully demonstrate the capabilities of ACIS and reveal a previously unknown point source at the center of the remnant.