Progress and Validation of Geant4 Based Radioactive Decay Simulation Using the Examples of Simbol-X and IXO

S. HaufTechnische Universität Darmstadt
M. Kuster(Technische Universität Darmstadt)
M. G. Pia(European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Z. Bell(Oak Ridge National Laboratry)
U. Briel(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)
R. Chipaux(CEA/DSM/IRFU, Centre de Saclay)
D. H. H. Hoffmann(Technische Universität Darmstadt)
E. Kendziorra(Institut für Astronomie und Astrophysik Tübingen)
P. Laurent(CEA/DSM/IRFU, Centre de Saclay)
L. Strüder(Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)
C. Tenzer(Institut für Astronomie und Astrophysik Tübingen)
G. Weidenspointer(MPI Halbleiterlabor)
A. Zoglauer(University of California, Space Science Laboratory)

Publication date

October 2015

Abstract

The anticipated high sensitivity and the science goals of the next generation X-ray space missions, like the International X-ray Observatory or Simbol-X, rely on a low instrumental background, which in turn requires optimized shielding concepts. We present Geant4 based simulation results on the IXO Wide Field Imager cosmic ray proton induced background in comparison with previous results obtained for the Simbol-X LED and HED focal plane detectors. Our results show that an improvement in mean differential background flux compared to actually operating X-ray observatories may be feasible with detectors based on DEPFET technology. In addition we present preliminary results concerning the validation of Geant4 based radioactive decay simulation ...