Title :
An X-Ray Proportional Counter for the Viking Lander
Author :
Glesius, Fred L. ; Kroon, John C. ; Castro, Angelo J. ; Clark, Benton C.
Author_Institution :
Reuter-Stokes, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio 44128
Abstract :
A set of four sealed proportional counters with optimized energy response is employed in the X-ray fluorescence spectrometer units aboard the two Viking Landers. The instruments have provided quantitative elemental analyses of soil samples taken from the Martian surface. This paper discusses the design and development of these miniature proportional counters, and describes their performance on Mars.
Keywords :
Chemical elements; Counting circuits; Design optimization; Fluorescence; Instruments; Performance analysis; Planets; Radiation detectors; Soil; Spectroscopy;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TNS.1978.4329352
