TES Pixel Optimization for the ATHENA X-IFU Instrument

ATHENA is a European led x-ray observatory due for launch in the early 2030s. The X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) instrument on ATHENA will have an array of 3168 TES microcalorimeters, 2.5 eV resolution (at 7 keV), 5 arc second angular resolution and a 5 arc minute field of view. As one example, will allow unprecedented views of composition and dynamics of galaxy clusters.