Initial Performance Results of the Proportional Counter Array for the X-ray Timing Explorer

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Session 51 -- Instrumentation
Display presentation, Wednesday, 9:20-6:30, Pauley Room

[51.19] Initial Performance Results of the Proportional Counter Array for the X-ray Timing Explorer

K. Jahoda, J. H. Swank (GSFC), A. B. Giles, W. Zhang (GSFC/USRA), E. H. Morgan (MIT)

We present initial calibration results for the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) detectors, currently being built for launch aboard the X-ray Timing Explorer in late 1995. The scientific requirements are to build large area proportional counters with moderate spectral resolution, high efficiency from 2-60 keV, and sub-millisecond timing resolution. The PCA experiment includes a novel and flexible data compression system, the Experiment Data System, being built at MIT. We present initial results on energy resolution, detector stability, background discrimination, and timing signatures. We demonstrate that the PCA will have the capability to measure micro-second coincidences between X-rays detected in different detectors and that timing studies can be done at 10 micro-second resolution without timing signatures introduced by the instrument.

Wednesday program listing