Mr. Gabriele E. Villa Profile

Gabriele E. Villa

Retired

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (18)

Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Paper

The new SCOS-based EGSE of the EPIC flight-spare on-ground cameras

Nicola La Palombara, Anthony Abbey, Fernando Insinga, Pedro Calderon-Riano, Mauro Casale, Marcus Kirsch, James Martin, Ramon Munoz, Maddalena Palazzo, Mauro Poletti, Steve Sembay, Juan Vallejo, Gabriele Villa

Proceedings Volume 9144, 91444Q (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055138

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Control systems, Device simulation, Interfaces, Molybdenum, Space operations, Human-machine interfaces, Databases, Satellites, Relays

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The XMM-Newton observatory, launched by the European Space Agency in 1999, is still one of the scientific community’s most important high-energy astrophysics missions. After almost 15 years in orbit its instruments continue to operate smoothly with a performance close to the immediate post-launch status. The competition for the observing time remains very high with ESA reporting a very healthy over-subscription factor. Due to the efficient use of spacecraft consumables XMM-Newton could potentially be operated into the next decade. However, since the mission was originally planned for 10 years, progressive ageing and/or failures of the on-board instrumentation can be expected. Dealing with them could require substantial changes of the on-board operating software, and of the command and telemetry database, which could potentially have unforeseen consequences for the on-board equipment. In order to avoid this risk, it is essential to test these changes on ground, before their upload. To this aim, two flight-spare cameras of the EPIC experiment (one MOS and one PN) are available on-ground. Originally they were operated through an Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) system which was developed over 15 years ago to support the test campaigns up to the launch. The EGSE used a specialized command language running on now obsolete workstations. ESA and the EPIC Consortium, therefore, decided to replace it with new equipment in order to fully reproduce on-ground the on-board configuration and to operate the cameras with SCOS2000, the same Mission Control System used by ESA to control the spacecraft. This was a demanding task, since it required both the recovery of the detailed knowledge of the original EGSE and the adjustment of SCOS for this special use. Recently this work has been completed by replacing the EGSE of one of the two cameras, which is now ready to be used by ESA. Here we describe the scope and purpose of this activity, the problems faced during its execution, the adopted solutions, and the tests performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new EGSE.

Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The x-ray mirrors for the EXIST/SXI telescope

Stefano Basso, Gianpiero Tagliaferri, Lorenzo Natalucci, Giancarlo Parodi, Gabriele Villa, Angela Bazzano, Patrizia Caraveo, Paolo Conconi, Roberto Della Ceca, Jonathan Grindlay, Giovanni Pareschi, Brian Ramsey, Pietro Ubertini, Michela Uslenghi

Proceedings Volume 7732, 77324C (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857308

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, X-ray telescopes, Space telescopes, Finite element methods, X-ray imaging, X-rays, Nickel, Sensors, Satellites, Spatial resolution

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Proceedings Article | 30 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The x-ray camera of the EXIST/SXI telescope

Michela Uslenghi, Mauro Fiorini, Sandro Mereghetti, Gabriele Villa, Angela Bazzano, Patrizia Caraveo, Carlo Fiorini, Jonathan Grindlay, Lorenzo Natalucci, Giovanni Pareschi, Gianpiero Tagliaferri, Pietro Ubertini

Proceedings Volume 7732, 77324B (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857217

KEYWORDS: Sensors, X-ray telescopes, Cameras, Space telescopes, X-rays, X-ray imaging, Spatial resolution, Mirrors, Field effect transistors, Image resolution

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Proceedings Article | 29 July 2010 Paper

Paper

VELA: a fast DEPFET readout circuit for the NHXM Mission

L. Bombelli, C. Fiorini, A. Marone, M. Uslenghi, M. Fiorini, G. Villa, M. Porro, J. Treis, S. Herrmann, A. Wassatsch

Proceedings Volume 7732, 77323N (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856398

KEYWORDS: Field effect transistors, Sensors, Electrons, Image resolution, X-ray imaging, Light emitting diodes, Imaging spectroscopy, Space telescopes, Polarization, X-ray telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 29 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The NHXM spectral-imaging cameras

O. Catalano, A. Argan, R. Bellazzini, A. Brez, E. Costa, C. Fiorini, G. Malaguti, G. Pareschi, G. Tagliaferri, M. Uslenghi

Proceedings Volume 7732, 773219 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856944

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Sensors, Optical fibers, Light emitting diodes, Optical filters, Polarimetry, X-rays, Quantum efficiency, Hard x-rays, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 29 July 2010 Paper

Paper

NHXM: a New Hard X-ray imaging and polarimetric Mission

Gianpiero Tagliaferri, Andrea Argan, Ronaldo Bellazzini, Jay Bookbinder, Osvaldo Catalano, Elisabetta Cavazzuti, Enrico Costa, Giancarlo Cusumano, Fabrizio Fiore, Carlo Fiorini, Paolo Giommi, Giuseppe Malaguti, Giorgio Matt, Sandro Mereghetti, Giuseppina Micela, Stephen Murray, Barbara Negri, Giovanni Pareschi, Giuseppe Perola, Suzanne Romaine, Gabriele Villa

Proceedings Volume 7732, 773217 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857032

KEYWORDS: Polarimetry, X-rays, Sensors, Cameras, Polarization, Mirrors, Hard x-rays, Spectroscopy, Physics, Synchrotrons

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Proceedings Article | 31 August 2009 Paper

Paper

The Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) on board the EXIST mission

G. Tagliaferri, S. Basso, P. Conconi, G. Pareschi, A. Bazzano, P. Caraveo, J. Grindlay, L. Natalucci, P. Ubertini, M. Uslenghi, G. Villa

Proceedings Volume 7437, 743706 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827372

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Sensors, Telescopes, X-ray telescopes, X-rays, X-ray imaging, Optical design, Charge-coupled devices, Cameras, Image quality

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Proceedings Article | 21 August 2009 Paper

Paper

The SXI telescope on board EXIST: scientific performances

L. Natalucci, A. Bazzano, S. Campana, P. Caraveo, R. Della Ceca, J. Grindlay, F. Panessa, G. Pareschi, B. Ramsey, G. Tagliaferri, P. Ubertini, G. Villa

Proceedings Volume 7435, 74350C (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826288

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, X-rays, Space telescopes, X-ray telescopes, Mirrors, Hard x-rays, Sensors, Observatories, Optical instrument design, Cameras

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Proceedings Article | 11 March 2003 Paper

Paper

Science highlights, calibration, and performance of EPIC on Newton-XMM: the MOS camera

Martin Turner, Ulrich Briel, Philippe Ferrando, R. Griffiths, Gabriele Villa

Proceedings Volume 4851, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461169

KEYWORDS: Charge-coupled devices, Calibration, Molybdenum, Cameras, Optical filters, Iron, X-rays, CCD cameras, Photons, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 11 March 2003 Paper

Paper

Monitoring the stability of thin and medium back-up filters of the Newton-XMM EPIC camera

Marco Barbera, Alfonso Collura, Marinella Artale, Salvatore Varisco, Giovanni Peres, Salvatore Sciortino, Salvatore Serio, Gabriele Villa

Proceedings Volume 4851, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.461592

KEYWORDS: Optical filters, Aluminum, Cameras, X-rays, Nitrogen, X-ray astronomy, Opacity, Spectrophotometry, Calibration, Oxidation

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Proceedings Article | 18 December 2000 Paper

Paper

Ultraviolet Italian Sky Surveyor (UVISS) on the International Space Station (ISS): study report

Pier Bernacca, Elio Antonello, F. Bertola, Andrea Martinez, Roberto Stalio, Santo Catalano, L. Maraschi, Marcello Rodono, Giuseppe Tondello, Gabriele Villa, M. Badiali, Giovanni Bonanno, Andrea Bucconi, L. Buson, D. Cardini, A. Cavaliere, P. Ceccherini, D. Martino, M. Della Valle, A. Emanuele, Renato Falomo, C. Facchinetti, E. Fantino, Anna Gregorio, Alessandro Lanzafame, C. Mirra, U. Munari, Giampiero Naletto, I. Pagano, Maria-Guglielmina Pelizzo, P. Pizzolati, Luca Poletto, Roberto Ragazzoni, R. Rampazzo, Bortolino Saggin, Salvatore Scuderi, Paolo Trampus, Michela Uslenghi, Mario Zannoni, Giovanna Zennaro, A. Bressan

Proceedings Volume 4139, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410523

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Stars, Ultraviolet radiation, Calibration, Data storage, Data archive systems, Sensors, Space telescopes, Mirrors, Staring arrays

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2000 Paper

Paper

In-orbit calibration activities of the XMM-Newton EPIC cameras

David Lumb, Philippe Gondoin, Martin Turner, Anthony Abbey, Paul Bennie, Steve Sembay, G. Griffiths, Philippe Ferrando, Jean Sauvageot, Elena Belsole, Claude Pigot, Ulrich Briel, Konrad Dennerl, Frank Haberl, Gisela Hartner, Eckhard Kendziorra, Marcus Kirsch, Markus Kuster, Silvano Molendi, Gabriele Villa, Andrea Tiengo, A. Lagostina, E. Serpell

Proceedings Volume 4140, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.409123

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Cameras, Optical filters, Molybdenum, Charge-coupled devices, X-rays, Data modeling, Sensors, CCD cameras, Point spread functions

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Proceedings Article | 18 July 2000 Paper

Paper

In-orbit performance of the EPIC-PN CCD camera on board XMM-Newton

Ulrich Briel, Bernd Aschenbach, M. Balasini, Heinrich Braeuninger, Wolfgang Burkert, Konrad Dennerl, M. Ehle, Frank Haberl, Robert Hartmann, Gisela Hartner, Peter Holl, Piero Massa, Norbert Meidinger, Josef Kemmer, Eckhard Kendziorra, Marcus Kirsch, Norbert Krause, Markus Kuster, David Lumb, Elmar Pfeffermann, Josef Pal, W. Pietsch, Martin Popp, A. Read, Claus Reppin, Heike Soltau, Ruediger Staubert, Lothar Strueder, Joachim Truemper, Gabriele Villa, Christoph van Zanthier, V. Zavlin

Proceedings Volume 4012, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391613

KEYWORDS: Charge-coupled devices, Cameras, Sensors, Calibration, X-rays, CCD cameras, Particles, Vignetting, Satellites, Telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 31 October 1996 Paper

Paper

EPIC system onboard the ESA XMM

Gabriele Villa, Anthony Abbey, Monique Arnaud, M. Balasini, Giovanni Bignami, Michel Boer, Heinrich Braeuninger, I Butler, G. Cafagna, C. Cara, C. Chabaud, Lucio Chiappetti, Richard Cole, M. Conte, J. Dowson, Pierre Dhez, R. Duc, Guido Di Cocco, Philippe Ferrando, C. Goodall, H. Hippman, Andrew Holland, Eckhard Kendziorra, Alain Labeque, Norbert Meidinger, C. Moriggio, Nicola La Palombara, C. Musso, E. Poindron, Giovanni Peres, E. Pferrerman, Claude Pigot, John Pye, Claus Reppin, D. Schmitt, Salvatore Sciortino, Salvatore Serio, J. Spragg, John Stephen, Lothar Strueder, Massimo Trifoglio, P. Tua, Martin Turner, S. Whitehead

Proceedings Volume 2808, (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.256015

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Charge-coupled devices, Molybdenum, CCD cameras, Electronics, Control systems, Optical filters, Aluminum, X-rays, Mirrors

Read Abstract +

The European photon imaging camera (EPIC) is one of the two main instruments onboard the ESA X-Ray Cornerstone Mission XMM. It is devoted to performing imaging and spectroscopy of the x-ray sky in the domain 0.1 10 keV with a peak sensitivity in 10⁵ seconds of 2 multiplied by 10^-15 erg/cm^-2. The x-ray instrumentation is complemented by a radiation monitor which will measure the particle background. The spectral resolution is approximately 140 eV at 6.4 keV and 60 eV at 1 keV. The instrumentation consists of three separate focal plane cameras at the focus of the three XMM telescopes, containing CCDs passively cooled to typically minus 100 degrees via radiators pointing toward the anti-Sun direction. The two cameras with the field of view partially occulted by the RGS grating boxes will have MOS technology CCDs while the third camera, with full field of view, will be based on p-n technology. The CCDs in the focal plane of the cameras will cover the entire 30 foot by 30 foot field of view of the telescope while the pixel size (40 by 40 (mu) for the MOS camera and 150 multiplied by 150 (mu) for the p-n) will be adequate to sample the approximately 20' PSF of the mirrors. In order to cope with a wide range of sky background and source luminosity in the visible/UV band, a filter wheel with six positions has been implemented in each camera. The six positions correspond to: open position, closed position, one thin filter (1600 angstrom of plastic support and 400 angstrom of Al), one medium filter (1600 angstrom of plastic support and 800 angstrom of Al) and one thick filter (approximately 3000 angstrom of plastic support, approximately 1000 angstrom of Al and 300 Angstrom of Sn). The final position will be a redundant filter of type still to be decided. A set of radioactive sources in each camera will allow the calibration of the CCDs in any of the operating modes and with any filter wheel position. Vacuum doors and valves operated will allow the operation of other camera heads on the ground, in a vacuum chamber and/or in a controlled atmosphere, and will protect the CCDs from contamination until the spacecraft is safely in orbit. The MOS camera will have 7 CCDs, each of 600 by 600 pixels arranged in a hexagonal pattern with one central and six peripheral. The p-n camera head will have 12 CCDs, each with 200 multiplied by 64 pixels, in a rectangular arrangement, 4 quadrants of 3 CCDs each. The radiation monitor is based on two separate detectors to monitor the low (electrons greater than 30 keV) and the high (electrons greater than 200 keV and protons greater than 10 MeV) energy particles impinging on the telescope along its orbit.

Proceedings Article | 1 November 1993 Paper

Paper

INTEGRAL: the next major gamma-ray astronomy mission?

Gerald Skinner, S. Bergeson-Willis, T. Courvoisier, Anthony Dean, Philippe Durouchoux, N. Eismont, Neil Gehrels, Jonathan Grindlay, William Mahoney, James Matteson, Brian McBreen, Oscar Pace, Thomas Prince, Volker Schoenfelder, Rashid Sunyaev, B. Swanenburg, Bonnard Teegarden, Pietro Ubertini, Gilbert Vedrenne, Gabriele Villa, Sergio Volonte, Christoph Winkler

Proceedings Volume 1945, (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.158753

KEYWORDS: Gamma radiation, Sensors, Spectroscopy, Imaging spectroscopy, Space operations, X-rays, X-ray optics, Imaging systems, Gamma-ray astronomy, Spatial resolution

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Proceedings Article | 1 October 1991 Paper

Paper

Imager for gamma-ray astronomy: balloon prototype

Guido Di Cocco, Claudio Labanti, Giuseppe Malaguti, Elio Rossi, Filomena Schiavone, Aldo Spizzichino, Alessandro Traci, Antony Bird, T. Carter, Anthony Dean, A. Gomm, K. Grant, Massimiliano Corba, E. Quadrini, Massimo Rossi, Gabriele Villa, Bruce Swinyard

Proceedings Volume 1549, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.48331

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Electronics, Gamma radiation, Imaging systems, Prototyping, Photodiodes, X-ray astronomy, Gamma-ray astronomy, X-rays, Extreme ultraviolet

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Proceedings Article | 1 November 1990 Paper

Paper

Performance of a position-sensitive gamma-ray detector unit based on CsI(T1) bars with photodiode readout

Claudio Labanti, Ezio Caroli, Anthony Dean, Guido Di Cocco, G. Ferrandi, K. Grant, Christopher Hall, E. Quadrini, Elio Rossi, Filomena Schiavone, Aldo Spizzichino, Bruce Swinyard, Alessandro Traci, Gabriele Villa

Proceedings Volume 1344, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.23234

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Signal attenuation, Scintillation, Spatial resolution, Gamma radiation, Photodiodes, Interference (communication), Extreme ultraviolet, X-rays, Coating

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Proceedings Article | 1 November 1990 Paper

Paper

European Photon Imaging Camera for x-ray astronomy

Giovanni Bignami, Gabriele Villa, Giuliano Boella, Giuseppe Bonelli, Patricia Caraveo, Lucio Chiappetti, E. Quadrini, Guido Di Cocco, Massimo Trifoglio, Pietro Ubertini, Giovanni Peres, Salvatore Sciortino, Salvatore Serio, G. Vaiana, R. Rothenflug, Laurent Vigroux, L. Koch, Yvon Rio, Claude Pigot, Jacky Cretolle, Alan Gabriel, B. Foing, Jean-Luc Atteia, Jean-Pierre Roques, Heinrich Braeuninger, W. Pietsch, Peter Predehl, Claus Reppin, Lothar Strueder, Joachim Truemper, Gerhard Lutz, Eckhard Kendziorra, Ruediger Staubert, Andrew Holland, Richard Cole, Alan Wells, K. Pounds, David Lumb, John Pye, Martin Turner, C. Goodall, T. Ponman, Gerald Skinner, A. Willmore

Proceedings Volume 1344, (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.23247

KEYWORDS: Charge-coupled devices, X-ray astronomy, Telescopes, X-rays, Cameras, Space telescopes, Imaging spectroscopy, Spatial resolution, Spectral resolution, Astronomy

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Showing 5 of 18 publications

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