Hard X-ray (>15 keV) facility for calibration of space astronomy experiments

Author

Frontera, F. ; Del Guerra, Alberto ; Gambaccini, M. ; Marziani, M. ; Pasqualini, G. ; Franceschini, T. ; Landini, G. ; Silvestri, S.

Author_Institution

Dipartimento di Fisica, Ferrara Univ., Italy

Volume

40

Issue

4

fYear

1993

fDate

8/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

874

Lastpage

878

Abstract

Hard X-ray (>15 keV) experiments for space astronomy require a detailed energy calibration in order to determine their true response matrix. To this end, an X-ray facility is built based on the use of a very stable X-ray generator plus an X-ray goniometer for crystal diffraction, that can provide collimated and monochromatic photons with energies in the range from about 15 keV to about 140 keV. A description is presented of the facility and its performance. The facility is used to test samples of hard X-ray mirrors for space astronomy, and it is being equipped to calibrate the high-energy experiment PDS on board the X-ray astronomy satellite SAX

Keywords

X-ray astronomy; X-ray crystallography apparatus; astronomical instruments; calibration; goniometers; 15 to 140 keV; PDS; SAX; X-ray astronomy satellite; X-ray facility; X-ray goniometer; collimated photons; crystal diffraction; energy calibration; hard X-ray mirrors; high-energy experiment; monochromatic photons; space astronomy experiments; test samples; true response matrix; very stable X-ray generator; Astronomy; Calibration; Extraterrestrial measurements; Goniometers; Photonic crystals; Satellite broadcasting; Testing; X-ray detection; X-ray detectors; X-ray diffraction;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.256676

Filename

256676