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The charge coupled devices (CCDs) developed for the Joint European X-ray Telescope (JET-X) are described in detail. A history of the development program and device performance is given. We present results from a comprehensive study to characterize the x-ray response of the flight model focal plane detectors. The goal of the program is to calibrate the efficiency, energy resolution, gain, etc. down to a precision of ~1%. Final calibration data sets will be based on combinations of measurements and calculations. For example, the CCD quantum efficiency will be composed of discrete line measurements made at the University of Leicester test facility and calculation and synchrotron measurements from the Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS). The absolute normalizations will be provided by x-ray long beam pipe measurements at the Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) Panter test facility in Munich. Using the available data, it is shown that it is possible to calibrate the quantum efficiency, the FWHM energy resolution, and the system gain of the flight devices to better than 1%. more...

The charge coupled devices (CCDs) developed for the Joint European X-ray Telescope (JET-X) are described in detail. A history of the development program and device performance is given. We present results from a comprehensive study to characterize the x-ray response of the flight model focal plane detectors. The goal of the program is to calibrate the efficiency, energy resolution, gain, etc. down to a precision of ~1%. Final calibration data sets will be based on combinations of measurements and calculations. For example, the CCD quantum efficiency will be composed of discrete line measurements made at the University of Leicester test facility and calculation and synchrotron measurements from the Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS). The absolute normalizations will be provided by x-ray long beam pipe measurements at the Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) Panter test facility in Munich. Using the available data, it is shown that it is possible to calibrate the quantum efficiency, the FWHM energy resolution, and the system gain of the flight devices to better than 1%. more...

The charge coupled devices (CCDs) developed for the Joint European X-ray Telescope (JET-X) are described in detail. A history of the development program and device performance is given. We present results from a comprehensive study to characterize the x-ray response of the flight model focal plane detectors. The goal of the program is to calibrate the efficiency, energy resolution, gain, etc. down to a precision of ∼1%. Final calibration data sets will be based on combinations of measurements and calculations. For example, the CCD quantum efficiency will be composed of discrete line measurements made at the University of Leicester test facility and calculation and synchrotron measurements from the Daresbury Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS). The absolute normalizations will be provided by x-ray long beam pipe measurements at the Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) Panter test facility in Munich. Using the available data, it is shown that it is possible to calibrate the quantum efficiency, the FWHM energy resolution, and the system gain of the flight devices to better than 1%. more...

Focusing mirrors manufactured via a galvanic replication process from negative shape mandrels is the chosen solution for the eROSITA X-ray mission. Media Lario Technologies (MLT) is the industrial enabler for manufacturing (in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute (MPE) and the German Space Agency (DLR)) of the Optical Payload for eROSITA - including the flight quality mandrels. Mandrels manufacturing holds a crucial role in the process of fabrication of the optics. In fact, the shape accuracy and the roughness of the replicated mirrors are strongly affected by the starting quality of the mandrel. For the e-ROSITA mandrel production an evolution of the approach used for the manufacturing of past mission mandrels (JET-X, XMM) have been developed. The low energy angular resolution of the eROSITA mirror payload needs to be 15 arcsec HEW or better; and at 8.05keV the angular resolution needs to be 20 arcsec HEW or better. Replicated mirrors with performance in this range for the low energy radiation have been obtained in the past by using mandrels that have superior geometrical shape accuracy. A proprietary multistep surface finishing process has now been developed for reaching the aggressive performance requirements demanded by the mission. The status and the metrology of the eROSITA series mandrels manufactured so far, by using the advanced polishing process, are presented. In the paper, the x-ray performance of mirror shells (as measured at MPE PANTER facility) replicated from a flight quality eROSITA mandrel, are reported. more...