The FOXSI SPIE proceedings manuscript has just been submitted! Now FOXSI is finally part of the official record and not just a proposal!
July 23, 2009
July 15, 2009
Back from MSFC FOXSI tests
We are finally back from the Stray light facility at the MSFC after completely some tests though not the ones we were expecting. After testing the single-shelled FOXSI module, it was clear that something was wrong. The laser alignment seemed to suggest that something was off with the shell. We were unable to get the laser down to a nice clean spot. The subsequent x-ray tests confirmed this. The focus was not a spot but always a ring. We tried to focus by searching in the z direction but hit up against the end of the z stage. The z stage was centered when we closed the bell jar so alignment was probably not the problem. Also, the image was not a perfect ring but had a large asymmetry which was suggested to be caused by a problem with one of the spider grooves. Since the spider had not been cleaned, it is possible that a small piece of metal was stuck in the grove with the shell pushing it out of true. This theory does not explain why we were not able to focus down to a point.
After this poor showing by the FOXSI module, we put in a single FOXSI shell. This shell was mounted at the center in a a plate with a circular cutout. The shell was dropped into the hole and four spots of epoxy hold it in place (the usual method is to have the shell float in the circular opening and apply epoxy all around the opening). This shell gave much better results. Analyzed images coming soon…
July 10, 2009
Foxsi test
After some delays, we finally have a single-shelled foxsi module and are setting up for some testing at the Stray Light Facility at the Marshall Space Flight Facility. Unfortunately the scheduled vibration test has been canceled for this week.
The foxsi module in the bell housing waiting for an optical laser alignment.
