Title :
A high energy focal-plane gas scintillation proportional counter
Author :
Austin, R.A. ; Apple, J.A. ; Dietz, K.L. ; Ramsey, B.D. ; Zirnstein, C.G.
Author_Institution :
Space Sci. Dept., USRA, Huntsville, AL, USA
Abstract :
We are developing high-pressure gas scintillation proportional counters for the focus of balloon-borne hard-X-ray telescopes as part of our HERO (High-Energy Replicated Optics) program. Each detector has an active diameter of 5 cm, and is filled with a xenon +4% helium mix at a total pressure of 10 ATM. Imaging is via a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube located immediately below a UV transmitting exit window. Two units are currently under construction and evaluation for a night in the spring of 2000. We present details of their design and construction together with data from preliminary X-ray testing
Keywords :
X-ray astronomy; astronomical telescopes; gas scintillation detectors; proportional counters; 10 atm; 5 cm; HERO; Xe-He; balloon-borne hard-X-ray telescope; focal-plane; gas scintillation proportional counter; high-pressure; position-sensitive photomultiplier tube; Focusing; Helium; Optical imaging; Photomultipliers; Radiation detectors; Solid scintillation detectors; Springs; Telescopes; X-ray imaging; Xenon;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium, 1999. Conference Record. 1999 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Seattle, WA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5696-9
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1999.845746
