Laboratory performance of the proportional counter array experiment for the X-ray Timing Explorer

William W. Zhang; Alan B. Giles; Keith Jahoda; Yang Soong; Jean H. Swank; Edward H. Morgan

doi:10.1117/12.162845

19 November 1993 Laboratory performance of the proportional counter array experiment for the X-ray Timing Explorer

William W. Zhang, Alan B. Giles, Keith Jahoda, Yang Soong, Jean H. Swank, Edward H. Morgan

Proceedings Volume 2006, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy IV; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.162845
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

In this paper we briefly describe the design and initial laboratory performance of the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) for the X-ray Timing Explorer (XTE). The PCA consists of 5 identical, sealed and collimated (1 degree(s) FWHM), xenon/methane multi-anode proportional counters sensitive to x-rays with energies between 2 and 60 keV. Each detector has an effective area of approximately 1,500 cm². The data system can tag the relative time of arrival of each event with an accuracy of 1 microsecond(s) . The overall absolute time accuracy will be maintained by the spacecraft to better than 1 ms. Following the design principles of the HEAO-1 A2 HED detectors, the PCA adopts the interleaved anode connection scheme with an active propane anti-coincidence layer in the front and a similar anti-coincidence xe/methane layer on three other sides of the detector. The interleaved anode connection scheme and the anti-coincidence layers reject background events caused by charged particles with high efficiency, thus significantly reducing the background event rate at lower energies. As of June, 1993, the fabrication and assembly of all the five detectors had been completed. Their performance evaluation and characterization are currently under way. XTE is scheduled to be launched with a Delta-II rocket in the summer of 1995.

Citation Download Citation

William W. Zhang, Alan B. Giles, Keith Jahoda, Yang Soong, Jean H. Swank, and Edward H. Morgan "Laboratory performance of the proportional counter array experiment for the X-ray Timing Explorer", Proc. SPIE 2006, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, (19 November 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.162845

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available