Title :
Cosmic ray induced degradation in X-ray detectors on board the NEAR spacecraft
Author :
Floyd, S.R. ; Trombka, J.I. ; Goldsten, J.O. ; Fiore, E.M.
Author_Institution :
Lab. for Extraterrestrial Phys., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Abstract :
The X-ray detectors on board the Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft are argon gas filled proportional counters. Their resolution is checked periodically by commanding an Fe-55 radioactive source into position in front of the detector window. Low energy tailing and broadening of the 6 keV line is observed. The phenomenon observed, the mechanism behind the degradation and the impact on instrument performance are considered
Keywords :
X-ray astronomy; X-ray spectrometers; asteroids; astronomical instruments; cosmic ray interactions; proportional counters; space vehicles; Ar; NEAR; Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous; X-ray apparatus; X-ray detector; X-ray spectrometer; asteroid; broadening; calibration; chemical analysis; cosmic ray induced degradation; cosmic-ray irradiation; gas filled proportional counter; instrument performance; low energy tailing; measurement technique; spacecraft; Counting circuits; Degradation; Filters; Instruments; Iron; Laboratories; Space vehicles; Spectroscopy; Voltage; X-ray detectors;
Conference_Titel :
High Energy Radiation Background in Space, 1997 Conference on the
Conference_Location :
Snowmass, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4335-2
DOI :
10.1109/CHERBS.1997.660243
