In-flight calibration and initial observations with the iXRD detector on Sharjah-Sat-1: targeting the crab pulsar

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.52202/078361-0007

The deployment of the iXRD (improved X-ray Detector) equipped with Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CdZnTe) on board Sharjah-Sat-1 heralds a significant leap in capacity building at University of Sharjah, and setting the basis for developing further payloads in the future. This instrument, tailored for observing within the energy range of 20-200 keV, targeting the detailed examination of a handful of very bright high-energy astrophysics cosmic sources from space. Integral to the mission's success is the precise in-flight calibration of the iXRD detector. This calibration is crucial for ensuring data integrity and the detector's spectral accuracy. The the Crab Pulsar have been selected as the primary validation and calibration targets, due to their intense and well-characterized X-ray signatures, offering ideal conditions for fine-tuning the iXRD's operational parameters. This abstract outlines the technical approach and anticipated scientific advancements stemming from the calibration and early use of the iXRD detector on board sharjah-sat-1, underscoring its importance in exploring the high-energy universe.