Abstract:
This thesis work is part of The enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry Mission (eXTP), a space-based high-energy physics mission led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and co-participated by many European countries. It aims to explore celestial objects such as Black Holes (BHs) and Neutron Stars (NSs) through X-ray observations, and to measure the timing and polarization properties of the radiation they emit. To achieve this goal, the mission is equipped with four scientific instrument payloads. Among them, the Large Area Detector (LAD), as one of the important payloads contributed by Europe consortium, is a high-throughput instrument focusing on energy spectrum-timing research. The LAD utilizes state-of-the-art largearea Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs). With the continuous advancement of detector technology, its dead time has been reduced to the nanosecond level, enabling the LAD to achieve exceptionally high time resolution in the detection of X-ray sources. To accurately handle the rapid output of high-throughput data, it is essential to develop corresponding data processing components to accommodate the high time resolution of X-ray detection. This thesis presents the development of the Panel Back-End Electronic (PBEE) for the data handling chain of the LAD instrument aboard the eXTP, as well as the testing of PBEE and energy calibration of the LAD’s data handling chain. The first part of the thesis focuses on the development of the PBEE of the LAD payload. Based on the systematic review of X-ray astronomical observation principles and the current state of high-energy detector technology, the LAD-PBEE is designed to fulfill the scientific objectives of the eXTP mission. The second part systematically presents the testing of the LAD prototype. The PBEE system was functionally verified through integrated testing, and the experimental results demonstrated that the electronic system’s performance indicators met the design specifications. During the ’first-light’ testing phase, the initial spectral curve was successfully obtained, and spectral calibration was carried out based on the measured data. This thesis is composed of 6 chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the fundamental principles of X-rays and their detection technologies, along with a list of several representative high-energy astronomical missions. Chapter 2 discusses the core scientific objectives and overall mission design of the eXTP mission, with a focus on its key payloads. Chapter 3 examines the design details and technical implementation of the LAD, one of the payloads of the eXTP mission. Chapter 4 centers on the core work of this thesis—the development of the PBEE, covering hardware design, software development, and the creation of a communication protocol tailored for the LAD. Chapter 5 systematically introduces various testing activities for the PBEE, including electrical performance tests and functional verification tests. Additionally, this chapter details the debugging process of the LAD data handling chain and presents preliminary energy calibration results. Chapter 6, as the concluding section, provides a comprehensive review and outlook on the research content.
Digital Electronics