A high sensitivity phoswich scintillator X-ray telescope for hard X-ray (20 - 120 keV) astronomy from balloon platform
Abstract
A large area (400 cm2) low background X-ray telescope consisting of four collimated NaI/CsI scintillator phoswich detectors (each 100 cm2) was built and successfully flown several times during 1980-1984. The phoswich configuration enables one to eliminate X-ray background produced by high energy atmospheric and cosmic gamma-rays. Combined with large area, small field of view (5° × 5°) and large exposure time that was possible due to an on-board telescope pointing programmer, for the 20 - 120 Kev energy range, 3σ sensitivity achieved was 5 × 10-6 photon/cm2 sec Kev for exposure time of 104 sec at observational altitude of 4 g/cm2. The Instrument characteristics, relevant details on pointing system, detector system, associated electronics and telemetry and in-flight performance in 1983 and 1984 are presented.
- Publication:
-
Advances in Space Research
- Pub Date:
- 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0273-1177(87)90020-2
- Bibcode:
- 1987AdSpR...7g.115D
- Keywords:
-
- Balloon-Borne Instruments;
- Scintillation Counters;
- Spaceborne Telescopes;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- X Ray Telescopes;
- Background Radiation;
- Cosmic Rays;
- Flight Tests;
- Telemetry;
- Astronomy