A large-area lithium-fluoride Bragg spectrometer for stellar X-ray astronomy.
Abstract
A large-area Bragg spectrometer used to search for the Fe XXV X-ray emission lines of Sco X-1 is described. The device has 3400 sq cm of LiF on nine crystal panels aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rocket. X rays satisfying the Bragg condition reflect into an array of nine companion proportional counters. A pointing system incorporating a free gyroscope with 2 degrees of freedom assures that target X rays are reflected at the required angle and produces repeated spectral scans of the X-ray continuum, which are later superimposed to correct temporal effects. The instrument is capable of detecting a narrow line flux from Sco X-1 of about .01 photons/sq cm/sec.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear Instruments and Methods
- Pub Date:
- 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0029-554X(75)90634-5
- Bibcode:
- 1975NucIM.126..217S
- Keywords:
-
- Lithium Fluorides;
- Spectrometers;
- Stellar Spectrophotometry;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- X Ray Spectroscopy;
- Bragg Angle;
- Gyroscopes;
- Iron;
- Pointing Control Systems;
- Proportional Counters;
- Rocket-Borne Instruments;
- Instrumentation and Photography