X-ray experiment on Prognoz-9 artificial Earth satellite
Abstract
Instrumentation carried aboard the Prognoz-9 artificial Earth satellite made possible the simultaneous registry of X-radiation and charged particles of different types in a wide energy range. This provided data on background increases in the fluxes of X-radiation caused by increases in fluxes of charged particles and when necessary made it possible to exclude simulation of X-radiation events by charged particles. The satellite carried on RKh-1 scintillation spectrometer for measuring X-radiation fluxes in the ranges 10 to 50, 25 to 50, 50 to 100 and 100 to 200 keV. Two main operating regimes were employed: continuous and once per second. During the initial stage of the flight the RKh-1 was oriented on the region of the galactic anticenter. Its field of view intercepted several X-ray sources, including the source in Crab nebula. The principal sensing element of each sensor is a CsI(T1) crystal with a thickness of 2.5 mm and a diameter of 80 mm. During the first half of the flight year the RKh-1 registered several hundred bursts of solar X-radiation. Good results were also obtained in studying cosmic gamma bursts of nonsolar origin and X-ray pulsars. The response of the RKh-1 in registering X-ray bursts was evaluated.
- Publication:
-
USSR Report Space
- Pub Date:
- March 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985RpSpR.......19K
- Keywords:
-
- Prognoz Satellites;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- X Ray Sources;
- Bursts;
- Charged Particles;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Pulsars;
- Satellite-Borne Instruments;
- Scintillation Counters;
- Solar X-Rays;
- Spectrometers;
- Launch Vehicles and Space Vehicles