Telescope performance and image simulations of the balloon-borne coded-mask protoMIRAX experiment
Abstract
In this work we present the results of imaging simulations performed with the help of the GEANT4 package for the protoMIRAX hard X-ray balloon experiment. The instrumental background was simulated taking into account the various radiation components and their angular dependence, as well as a detailed mass model of the experiment. We modeled the meridian transits of the Crab Nebula and the Galactic Centre region during balloon flights in Brazil (∼ - 23 ° of latitude and an altitude of ∼ 40km) and introduced the correspondent spectra as inputs to the imaging simulations. We present images of the Crab and of three sources in the Galactic Centre region: 1E 1740.7-2942, GRS 1758-258 and GX 1+4. The results show that the protoMIRAX experiment is capable of making spectral and timing observations of bright hard X-ray sources as well as important imaging demonstrations that will contribute to the design of the MIRAX satellite mission.
- Publication:
-
Journal of High Energy Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- March 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jheap.2015.01.001
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1505.05835
- Bibcode:
- 2015JHEAp...5...22P
- Keywords:
-
- ProtoMIRAX;
- Astronomy;
- X-ray astrophysics;
- Astrophysics;
- Balloon experiment;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 9 figures