Focal Plane CCD Imaging X-Ray Spectrometers For Two European Missions In The 1990'S

Amongst the space-borne X-ray astronomy observatories to be launched during the 1990's, two missions being studied within Europe are the JET-X instrument on the Soviet SPECTR R-G satellite, and the EPIC focal plane camera selected for ESA's XMM. The Leicester University X-ray Astronomy Group is developing focal plane detectors utilising EEV CCDs for both of these instruments. The key design requirements for these missions are discussed, and the expected performance of the CCDs is described.