ARCUS (Latin for arc, as in a rainbow) science mission is threefold –First, ARCUS will allow us to create a complete picture of the formation and cycling of metals in and out of galaxies and clusters. Second, explore how physics behaves at the extremes of space and time near a black hole and learning how black holes evolve requires X-ray spectra. Lastly, ARCUS will explore how the formation and heating of stellar coronal structures evolve as rotation slows with age. The Large Scale Structure (LSS) of the Universe grew via the gravitational collapse of dark matter, but the visible components that trace the LSS–galaxies, groups and clusters–have a more complex history. Their Baryons experience shock heating, radiative cooling, and feedback from black holes and star formation, which leave faint signatures of hot (T~105-108 K), metal-enriched gas in the interstellar and intergalactic media (ISM and IGM).
2 Focal plane arrays (Center) and accompanied detector electronics boxes
Our team was tasked to develop the detector assembly and associated detector electronics for this mission. This design utilized two focal plane arrays consisting of 8 CCDs each powered by an accompanied electronics box. In addition to the design our team developed the structural interfaces to the spacecraft, and thermal requirements for the detectors.
Arcus satellite initial design with an overall satellite length of 15m
One Focal Plane Array (FPA). 8 CCDs should mounted to the FPA, stand-offs shown in blue
Single detector package