Title :
The proportional counter array (PCA) instrument for the X-ray timing explorer satellite (XTE)
Author :
Glasser, C.A. ; Odell, C.E. ; Seufert, S.E.
Author_Institution :
Lab. for High Energy Astrophys., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
fDate :
8/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A large area array of xenon gas filled proportional counters has been developed as the main instrument of the X-ray Timing Explorer (XTE) satellite. The array is composed of 5 independent detectors, each operating in the energy range 2-60 keV. Each detector provides event information timed to 1 microsecond, and a spectral resolution of ~18% FWHM at 6 keV. This paper will describe the overall design of the detectors and the associated electronics system, their performance, and calibration results
Keywords :
X-ray astronomy; X-ray detection and measurement; astronomical instruments; calibration; proportional counters; 1 mus; 6 keV; X-ray Timing Explorer; XTE; calibration; electronics; proportional counter array; spectral resolution; Counting circuits; Detectors; Energy resolution; Event detection; Instruments; Principal component analysis; Satellites; Sensor arrays; Timing; Xenon;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
