The real-time trigger software of the follow-up X-ray telescope on board the EP satellite

IF 2.7 3区物理与天体物理 Q2 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Experimental Astronomy Pub Date : 2025-05-27 DOI:10.1007/s10686-025-10006-y

Xiaofan Zhao, Hanyu Ban, Hongbo Cai, Jingjing Xu, Fei Li, Zijian Zhao, Ye Zhang, Weiwei Cui, Hao Wang, Laidan Luo, Wei Li, Yong Chen

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Abstract

The Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT) is a primary scientific instrument on board the Einstein Probe (EP) astronomical satellite, which was launched in January 2024. FXT consists of two nested Wolter I-type telescopes (FXT-A and FXT-B) with a focal length of 1600 mm. The focal plane detector utilizes a PNCCD with a resolution of 384\(\times \)384 pixels. One of the key functions of FXT is to perform the real-time triggering and localization of transients and burst sources. We have developed specialized real-time trigger software that operates within the Payload Data Processing Unit of EP. This onboard software can effectively search for and locate sources, while transmitting source information in real time via the Beidou short message unit and the Very High Frequency (VHF) unit. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the design and development of the onboard software, covering software requirements, module design, and workflow. Additionally, the paper introduces both ground-based and in-orbit testing of this software, and the test results demonstrate that the software meets all design requirements.

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EP星上后续x射线望远镜实时触发软件

后续x射线望远镜（FXT）是2024年1月发射的爱因斯坦探测器（EP）天文卫星上的主要科学仪器。FXT由两个嵌套的Wolter i型望远镜（FXT- a和FXT- b）组成，焦距为1600毫米。焦平面探测器采用分辨率为384 \(\times \) 384像素的PNCCD。FXT的关键功能之一是实现瞬态和突发源的实时触发和定位。我们已经开发了专门的实时触发软件，在EP的有效载荷数据处理单元内运行。该机载软件可以有效地搜索和定位源，同时通过北斗短报文单元和甚高频（VHF）单元实时传输源信息。本文全面描述了机载软件的设计和开发，包括软件需求、模块设计和工作流程。此外，本文还介绍了该软件的地基和在轨测试，测试结果表明该软件满足设计要求。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Experimental Astronomy 地学天文-天文与天体物理

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

3.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Many new instruments for observing astronomical objects at a variety of wavelengths have been and are continually being developed. Furthermore, a vast amount of effort is being put into the development of new techniques for data analysis in order to cope with great streams of data collected by these instruments. Experimental Astronomy acts as a medium for the publication of papers of contemporary scientific interest on astrophysical instrumentation and methods necessary for the conduct of astronomy at all wavelength fields. Experimental Astronomy publishes full-length articles, research letters and reviews on developments in detection techniques, instruments, and data analysis and image processing techniques. Occasional special issues are published, giving an in-depth presentation of the instrumentation and/or analysis connected with specific projects, such as satellite experiments or ground-based telescopes, or of specialized techniques.