X-ray Gas Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment
Abstract
The payload complement on Spacelab 1 included a spectrometer for observations of the brighter cosmic x-ray sources. The primary scientific objective was to study the detailed spectral features of cosmic x-ray sources and their associated temporal variations over a wide energy range from about 2 to 80 kiloelectron volts. The instrument, based on the gas scintillation proportional counter, had a geometrical area of some 180 square centimeters with an energy resolution of about 9 percent at 7 kiloelectron volts. The results presented here show new results from two galactic binary x-ray sources, Cygnus X-3 and Centaurus X-3, and from the Perseus cluster of galaxies. The excellent energy resolution of the instrument permits line features to be identified in these sources with unprecedented quality.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- July 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.225.4658.177
- Bibcode:
- 1984Sci...225..177A
- Keywords:
-
- Cosmic X Rays;
- Galactic Radiation;
- Spacecraft Instruments;
- Spacelab;
- X Ray Spectroscopy;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Centaurus Constellation;
- Cygnus Constellation;
- Energy Spectra;
- Spacelab Payloads;
- X Ray Sources;
- Astronomy