Title :
Development of a high energy X-ray polarimeter for small satellites
Author :
Gunji, S. ; Austin, R.A. ; Elsner, R.F. ; Ramsey, B.D. ; Weisskopf, M.C.
Author_Institution :
Nat. Res. Council, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, USA
Abstract :
We are developing a Thomson-scattering-type polarimeter sensitive in the energy range from 10 keV to 20 keV for a small satellite. The polarimeter consists of three beryllium disks as scatterers and a cylindrical position-sensitive proportional counter as a detector of the scattered X-rays. Its performance has been investigated through computer simulations. From these, it was concluded that the polarimeter can obtain a modulation factor of 34%, a detection efficiency of ~10%, and a minimum detectable polarization of about 3.0% for Her X-1 in 2 keV bands and a 2×105 sec observation
Keywords :
X-ray astronomy; X-ray detection; astronomical instruments; beryllium; position sensitive particle detectors; proportional counters; stellar polarimetry; 10 to 20 keV; Be; Thomson-scattering-type polarimeter; beryllium disks; cylindrical position-sensitive proportional counter; detection efficiency; high energy X-ray polarimeter; scattered X-rays; small satellites; Azimuthal angle; Computer simulation; Councils; Instruments; NASA; Polarization; Position sensitive particle detectors; Radiation detectors; Satellites; X-ray scattering;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium, 1996. Conference Record., 1996 IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3534-1
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1996.590912
