Performance of the pn-CCD X-ray detector system designed for the XMM satellite mission

The pn-CCD detector system is designed as a focal plane instrument for the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) on the X-ray Multi Mirror mission (XMM) of the European Space Agency. This satellite will be launched by the end of this century. The sensitive area of the detector consists of a 6 x 6 cm(2) array of 12 pn-CCDs monolithically integrated on a single silicon wafer. The detector has been optimized for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy between 100 eV and 15 keV with simultaneous good quantum efficiency for the investigation of faint objects. A fast readout achieves excellent time resolution for the observation of pulsed X-ray sources. The relevant performance parameters reflecting the state of the detector development are presented. Energy resolution reaches the theoretical limits given by the Fano noise. Due to a thin entrance window and full depletion of the device the quantum efficiency is better than 80% over a wide energy range. Evidence for radiation hardness and background rejection capability will also be provided.