Office: 37-551
Mailing Address:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
37-551, 77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
Phone: (617) 253-0797
email: cgrant @ space.mit.edu
Chandra First Light! (That's me up front)
Currently I'm a member of the ACIS Instrument team. My instrument work has concentrated on measuring and monitoring ACIS performance, particularly radiation damage and contamination, including designing and testing hardware and software CTI mitigation strategies. I also support ACIS operations and calibration efforts, including developing the CCD CTI simulator used by CXC Calibration to create response products for science analysis. For more on my technical ACIS instrument work go here.
X-ray detectors, CCDs, Particle Background, Hot Interstellar Medium, Galaxy Groups, X-ray Shadows, Diffuse Emission
My thesis was a study of the three-dimensional structure of the hot interstellar medium using X-ray shadows. These shadows are created when hot (million degree) plasma in our Galaxy is absorbed by foreground cold (a few degrees) molecular clouds. In theory, the distribution of hot gas along a line of sight to a cold cloud can be determined by measuring the amount of absorption caused by the molecular cloud and therefore the percentage of the X-ray emitting gas that is in front of or behind the cloud. Unfortunately, some of these cold molecular clouds have poor or no distance estimates. My thesis involves analysis of ROSAT data towards thirteen molecular clouds, comparison to IRAS 100 um data, and optical observations to determine the distances to the clouds where necessary. By combining the results from many different lines of sight, I put limits on models of the temperature, pressure and overall distribution of hot gas in our galaxy. The final version of my thesis can be downloaded here. My thesis advisor was Dr. David Burrows .
Gastaldello, F. et al. 2022, "The Origin of the Unfocused XMM-Newton Background, Its Variability, and Lessons Learned for ATHENA", ApJ, 928, 168 | ADS |
Miller, E.M. et al. 2022, "Mitigating the effects of particle background on the Athena Wide Field Imager", JATIS, 8 | ADS |
LaMarr, B.J. et al. 2022, "Measurement and simulation of charge diffusion in a small-pixel charge-coupled device", JATIS, 8 | ADS |
Bulbul, E. et al. 2020, "Characterization of the Particle-induced Background of XMM-Newton EPIC-pn: Short- and Long-term Variability", ApJ, 891, 13 | ADS |
Bautz, M.W. et al. 2019, "Toward fast, low-noise charge-coupled devices for Lynx", JATIS, 5 | ADS |
Monmeyran, C. et al. 2016, "Annealing bounds to prevent further Charge Transfer Inefficiency increase of the Chandra X-ray CCDs", NIM-B, 389, 23 | ADS |
Guainazzi, M. et al. 2015, "On the in-flight calibration plans of modern x-ray observatories", J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst. 1(4), 047001 | ADS |
Bautz, M., Prigozhin, G., Kissel, S., LaMarr, B., Grant, C., & Brown, S. 2005, "Anomalous Annealing of a High-resistivity CCD Irradiated at Low Temperature", IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 52, 519 | PDF | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., Chartas, G., & Garmire, G. 2004, "Detection of x-rays from galaxy groups associated with the gravitationally lensed systems PG 1115+080 and B1422+231", ApJ, 610, 686 (astro-ph/0305137) | ADS |
Weisskopf, M. et al. 2003, "An Overview of the Performance of the Chandra X-ray Observatory", Experimental Astronomy, 16, 1 (astro-ph/0503319) | ADS |
Markevitch, M. et al. 2003, "Chandra Spectra of the Soft X-ray Diffuse Background", ApJ, 583, 70 (astro-ph/0209441) | ADS |
Carney, B.W., Latham, D.W., Laird, J.B., Grant, C.E., & Morse, J.A. 2001, "A Survey of Proper Motion Stars. XIV. Spectroscopic Binaries Among Metal-Poor Field Blue Stragglers", AJ, 122, 3419 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. & Burrows, D.N. 1999, "Distances to the High Galactic Latitude Molecular Clouds G192-67 and MBM 23-24", ApJ, 516, 243 (astro-ph/9902083) | ADS |
Grant, C.E. 2011, "Charge-coupled devices" in Handbook of X-ray Astronomy, Arnaud, K., Smith, R., Siemiginowska, A., eds., Cambridge University Press, pp. 39-58
LaMarr, B.J. et al. 2022, "Charge transfer efficiency of CCDs with a single-polysilicon gate structure", in X-ray, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy X, Proc. SPIE, 12191 | ADS |
Wilkins, D.R. et al. 2022, "Reducing the background in x-ray imaging detectors via machine learning", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 12181 | ADS |
Miller, E.M. et al. 2022, "Understanding the effects of charge diffusion in next-generation soft x-ray imagers", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 12181 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2022, "Towards precision particle background estimation for future x-ray missions: correlated variability between Chandra ACIS and AMS", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 12181 | ADS |
Bautz, M. et al. 2022, "Performance of high frame-rate X-ray CCDs for future strategic missions", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 12181 | ADS |
Smith, R.K. et al. 2022, "Arcus: exploring the formation and evolution of clusters, galaxies, and stars", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 12181 | ADS |
LaMarr, B.J. et al. 2021, "Radiation testing of a back illuminated, small pixel, CMOS compatible CCD", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXII, Proc. SPIE 11821 | ADS |
White, N.E. et al. 2021, "The Gamow Explorer: a Gamma-Ray Burst Observatory to study the high redshift universe and enable multi-messenger astrophysics", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXII, Proc. SPIE 11821 | ADS |
LaMarr, B.J. et al. 2020, "Radiation testing of a small pixel, CMOS compatible CCD", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc SPIE, 11444 | ADS |
Bautz, M.et al. 2020, "Progress toward fast, low-noise, low-power CCDs for Lynx and other high-energy astrophysics missions", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc SPIE, 11444 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2020, "Reducing the Athena WFI charged particle background: results from Geant4 simulations", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc SPIE, 11444 | ADS |
Wilkins, D.R. et al. 2020, "Identifying charged particle background events in x-ray imaging detectors with novel machine learning algorithms", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc SPIE, 11444 | ADS |
Burrows, D.N. et al. 2019, "US Contributions to the Athena Wide Field Imager", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXI, Proc. SPIE 11118 | ADS |
Smith, R.K. et al. 2019, "Arcus: the soft x-ray grating explorer", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXI, Proc. SPIE 11118 | ADS |
Miller, E.D. et al. 2018, "The effects of charge diffusion on soft x-ray responses for future high-resolution imagers", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018:Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2018, "Reducing the Athena WFI background with the science products module: lessons from Chandra ACIS", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018:Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
Bulbul, E. et al. 2018, "Characterizing particle background of Athena WFI for the science products module: Swift XRT full frame and XMM-PN small window mode observations", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
Burrows, D.N. et al. 2018, "The Athena WFI science products module", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
von Kielin, A. et al. 2018, "Evaluation of the Athena/WFI instrumental background", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
Bautz, M.W. et al. 2018, "Toward fast low-noise low-power digital CCDs for Lynx and other high-energy astrophysics missions", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE 10699 | ADS |
Smith, R.K. et al. 2017, "Arcus: exploring the formation and evolution of clusters, galaxies, and stars", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX, Proc. SPIE 10397 | ADS |
O'Dell, S.L. 2017, "Modeling contamination migration on the Chandra X-ray Observatory IV", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX, Proc. SPIE 10397 | ADS |
Brenneman, L.W. et al. 2016, "The evolution of structure and feedback with Arcus" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 9905 | ADS |
Smith, R.K. et al. 2016, "Arcus: the x-ray grating spectrometer explorer" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 9905 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2016, "Evolution of temperature-dependent charge transfer inefficiency correction for ACIS on the Chandra X-ray Observatory" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 9905 | ADS |
O'Dell, S.L. et al. 2015, "Modeling contamination migration on the Chandra X-ray Observatory III" in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIX, Proc. SPIE, 9601 | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., Ford, P.G., & Plucinsky, P.P. 2014, "Fifteen years of the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 9144 (arXiv:1407.6677) | ADS |
O'Dell, S.L et al. 2013, "Modeling Contamination migration on the Chandra X-ray Observatory II" in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XVIII, Proc. SPIE, 8859 | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Ford, P.G., Bautz, M.W., & O'Dell, S.L. 2012, "Using ACIS on the Chandra X-ray Observatory as a particle radiation monitor II" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 8443 (arXiv:1207:3329) | ADS |
Ford, P.G. & Grant, C.E. 2012, "Using the Chandra ACIS x-ray imager as a background particle flux detector" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 8443 | ADS |
Grant, C.E., LaMarr, B., Bautz, M.W., & O'Dell, S.L. 2010, "Using ACIS on the Chandra X-ray Observatory as a particle radiation monitor" in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 7732 (arXiv:1007.4185) | ADS |
Miller, E.D. et al. 2009, "Groups of Galaxies at Intermediate Redshift", in The Energetic Cosmos: From Suzaku to Astro-H (arXiv:0910.1101) | ADS |
Grant, C.E., LaMarr, B., Prigozhin, G.Y., Kissel, S.E., Brown, S.K. & Bautz, M.W. 2008, "Physics of reverse annealing in high-resistivity Chandra ACIS CCDs", in High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy, Proc. SPIE, 7021 (arXiv:0807.1721) | ADS |
LaMarr, B. et al. 2008, "Front- and back-illuminated X-ray CCD performance in low- and high-Earth orbit: performance trends of Suzaku XIS and Chandra ACIS detectors", in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2008: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, Proc. SPIE, 7011 | ADS |
O'Dell, S.L. et al. 2007, "Managing radiation degradation of CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory III", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XV, Proc. SPIE, 6686 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. & Bautz, M.W. 2007, "Finding galaxy groups and clusters in the fields of lensed quasars", in The Extreme Universe in the Suzaku Era | Compressed Postscript | PDF |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., Kissel, S., LaMarr, B., & Prigozhin, G.Y. 2006, "Temperature dependence of charge transfer inefficiency in Chandra X-ray CCDs", in High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy II, Proc. SPIE, 6276 (astro-ph/0606178) | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., Kissel, S.E., LaMarr, B., & Prigozhin, G.Y. 2005, "Long-term trends in radiation damage of Chandra X-ray CCDs", in UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV, Proc. SPIE, 5898, 201 (astro-ph/0509035) | ADS |
O'Dell, S.L. et al. 2005, "Managing radiation degradation of CCDs on the Chandra X-ray Observatory II", in UV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV, Proc. SPIE, 5898, 212 | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., Kissel, S.E., & LaMarr, B. 2004, "A charge transfer inefficiency correction model for the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer", in High-Energy Detectors in Astronomy, Proc. SPIE, 5501, 177 (astro-ph/0407199) | ADS |
Plucinsky, P.P. et al. 2004, "An Evaluation of a Bake-out of the ACIS Instrument on the Chandra X-ray Observatory", in UV and Gamma-Ray Space Telescope Systems, Proc. SPIE, 5488, 251 | ADS |
Marshall, H.L., Tennant, A., Grant, C.E., Hitchcock, A.P., O'Dell, S., & Plucinsky, P.P. 2004, "Composition of the Chandra ACIS contaminant", in X-ray and Gamma-ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XIII, Proc. SPIE, 5165, 497 (astro-ph/0308332) | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Prigozhin, G.Y, LaMarr, B., & Bautz, M.W. 2003, "Sacrificial charge and the spectral resolution performance of the Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer", in X-ray and Gamma-ray Telescopes and Instruments for Astronomy, Proc. SPIE, 4851, 140 (astro-ph/0209126) | ADS |
Plucinsky, P.P. et al. 2003, "The Flight Spectral Response of the ACIS Instrument", in X-ray and Gamma-ray Telescopes and Instruments for Astronomy, Proc. SPIE, 4851, 89 (astro-ph/0209161) | ADS |
Grant, C.E., Bautz, M.W., & Virani, S.N. 2002, "The temporal characteristics of the Chandra X-ray Observatory high energy particle background", in High Energy Universe at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science Symposium, ASP Conf. Ser., 262, 401 (astro-ph/0202086) | ADS | Higher quality PDF |
Virani, S.N., Plucinsky, P.P., Grant, C.E., & LaMarr, B. 2002, "Analysis of On-Orbit ACIS Squeegee Mode Data on Chip I0", in High Energy Universe at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science Symposium, ASP Conf. Ser., 262, 409 (astro-ph/0112041) | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2022, "ACIS Update", Chandra Newsletter Issue 31 | Link |
Madsen, K.K. et al. 2021, "IACHEC 2020/2021 Pandemic Report", eprint arXiv:2111.01613 | ADS |
Madsen, K.K. et al. 2020, "Summary of the 14th IACHEC Meeting", eprint arXiv:2001.11117 | ADS |
Madsen, K.K. et al. 2019, "Summary of the 13th IACHEC Meeting", eprint arXiv:1901.00934 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2018, "ACIS Update", Chandra Newsletter Issue 25 | Link |
Forster, K. et al. 2017, "Summary of the 12th IACHEC Meeting", eprint arXiv:1708.01446 | ADS |
Li, X. et al. 2015, "Summary of the 2015 IACHEC meeting", eprint arXiv:1512.08585 | ADS |
Burrows, D. et al. 2014, "Summary of the 2014 IACHEC Meeting", eprint arXiv:1412.6233 | ADS |
Grant, C.E., LaMarr, B., Miller, E.D., & Bautz, M. W. 2014, "The Effects of Orbital Environment on X-ray CCD Performance", poster presentation at 14th HEAD meeting | PDF |
Grant, C.E. et al. 2013,"Summary of the 2013 IACHEC Meeting", eprint arXiv:1305.4480 | ADS |
Grant, C.E. 2011, "CCDs for X-ray Astronomy", lecture at Sixth International X-ray Astronomy School | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2011, "The ACIS Instrument on the Chandra X-ray Observatory: Instrument Status and Performance Evolution", poster presented at 218th AAS meeting | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2009, "Developing contributed software to correct for the temperature dependence of ACIS CTI", presentation at Chandra Calibration Review | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2009, "ACIS after ten years: Detector performance then, now and into the next decade", presentation at Chandra Calibration Review | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2007, "Correcting for the temperature dependence of ACIS CTI", presentation at Chandra Calibration Review | CCR proceedings |
Grant, C.E. 2007, "CCD Detectors for X-ray Astronomy", lecture at Fifth International X-ray Astronomy School | PDF |
Grant, C.E. & Bautz, M.W. 2006, "Finding galaxy groups and clusters in the fields of lensed quasars", poster presented at HEAD 2006 | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2005, "ACIS: Instrument Status and Performance Evolution", presentation at Chandra Calibration Workshop | CCW Proceedings |
Grant, C.E. 2005, "CCD Detectors for X-ray Astronomy", lecture at Fourth International X-ray Astronomy School | PDF |
Grant, C.E. 2004, "Evolution of ACIS Performance", presentation at Chandra Calibration Workshop | CCW Proceedings |
Grant, C.E. 2003, "Time-dependence of ACIS Contamination", presentation at Chandra Calibration Workshop | CCW Proceedings |
Grant, C.E. & Bautz, M.W. 2003, "Four Years of ACIS: Monitoring Detector Performance", poster presented at Four Years of Chandra Observations Symposium | Compressed Postscript | PDF |
Grant, C.E. & ACIS Instrument Team 2002, "Evolution of ACIS Response", presentation at Chandra Calibration Workshop | CCW Proceedings |