Development of X-ray Astronomy SOI Pixel Sensor for Study of First Black Holes

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Interdisciplinary research on quantum imaging opened with 3D semiconductor detector
• Project/Area Number: 25109004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tsuru Takeshi 京都大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (10243007)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 森 浩二 宮崎大学, 工学部, 准教授 (00404393) ; 幸村 孝由 東京理科大学, 理工学部物理学科, 教授 (20365505) ; 田中 孝明 京都大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (20600406) ; 武田 彩希 宮崎大学, 工学部, 助教 (40736667)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: X線天文学 / 宇宙物理 / X線検出器 / ＳＯＩピクセル検出器 / ＳＯＩＰＩＸ / Ｘ線 / 検出器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The goal of this study is to explore "First Black Holes" born in the early universe, and to understand the formation and evolution of the universe. For this research, we have developed an X-ray SOIPIX detector with microsecond time resolution that can realizes low background performance by anti-coincidence technique as well as performances of broadband, imaging and spectroscopy.
We realized a large device with 23.3 million pixels, and a devices with an energy resolution of 216 eV (FWHM) for 6.4 keV X-rays in the event-driven readout mode. Based on the results from our research, a working group of the X-ray astronomical mission, FORCE, with X-ray SOIPIXs as its main instruments was established in ISAS. The FORCE mission was selected as one of Large Research Projects by Science Council of Japan.

Free Research Field

高エネルギー宇宙物理実験

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により，最終目的である「ファーストブラックホール」の探査・研究への道が開かれた．この観測装置は，広がったX線天体に対する感度も高い．従って，超新星残骸，銀河団，銀河中心領域の硬X線での分光撮像に基づく，高温・非熱的宇宙の研究にも寄与する．
この検出器を用いた公募研究も進み，新たに６つのサイエンス領域を切り拓いた．具体的には次のような新たな基礎物理学分野の創出にも繋がった：アクシオン探索，低質量暗黒物質探索，宇宙X線タルボ干渉計観測，弱い等価原理(重力質量と慣性質量の等価)検証．電子トラック型コンプトンガンマ線カメラの研究開発が始まった．また，X線撮像蛍光分析分野への応用の提案も受けた．