Development of the X-ray CCD camera for the MAXI mission

Abstract Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) is an astrophysical payload for the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) on the International Space Station (ISS). MAXI is designed for full-sky monitoring in the 0.5–30 keV X-ray band. The Solid-state Slit Camera (SSC) is the X-ray CCD Camera for the MAXI mission. We have developed an engineering model (EM) of the SSC. Combined with the EM electronics, we achieved low readout noise ( ∼ 5 e - rms ) and good energy resolution (150 eV at 5.9 keV). We also examine the energy scale and the energy resolution as a function of energy using our calibration system. From these results, we conclude that the performance of the SSC-EM almost fulfills our requirements and that the final performance goals will be obtained in the flight model.