PHYS/ASTR Colloquium: "Advancing X-ray Astronomy with Fast, Low-Noise Detectors for Next-Generation Space Telescopes" - Tonya Peshel (Stanford/KIPAC Post-bac fellow, SF State B.S. Astrophysics Alumna)

Speaker: Tonya Peshel (KIPAC)

Host: Prof. Kim Coble

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Advancing X-ray Astronomy with Fast, Low-Noise Detectors for Next-Generation Space Telescopes

The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite (AXIS) (PI: Chris Reynolds, University of Maryland) is a NASA probe mission concept currently in Phase A study which, if selected, will launch in 2032 as the first of a new class of missions known as Probe Explorers. AXIS’s large, flat field of view and high spatial resolution will enable our understanding of transient phenomena throughout the universe, supermassive black hole formation and growth over time, and the influence of supernovae and AGN on galaxy evolution. The AXIS high-speed camera system is a collaboration led by Eric Miller between MIT, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Stanford University. To achieve the science goals, the X-ray Astronomy and Observational Cosmology (XOC) group at Stanford is addressing technology gaps and developing readout systems for prototype X-ray imaging charge-coupled devices (CCDs) with excellent speed and noise performance. In this talk, I will present recent test results for these systems and our work on novel detectors for future flagship observatory missions. 

Bio: Tonya (she/they) is a KIPAC Post-Baccalaureate Fellow at Stanford University, where she researches space-based detector development for high-energy astrophysics. She earned her B.S. in Physics (Astrophysics) from SF State at age 34 and is a proud nontraditional, first-generation student.