ROSAT position-sensitive proportional counter and its in-orbit performance

Ulrich G. Briel; Elmar Pfeffermann

doi:10.1117/12.218371

1 September 1995 ROSAT position-sensitive proportional counter and its in-orbit performance

Ulrich G. Briel, Elmar Pfeffermann

Proceedings Volume 2518, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.218371
Event: SPIE's 1995 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The prime focal instrument of the x-ray astronomy satellite ROSAT is the position sensitive proportional counter (PSPC). It is a conventional multiwire gas counter for the energy range from 0.1 to 2.4 keV. At a photon energy of 1 keV the PSPC has an energy resolution of 41% (FWHM), a position resolution of 230 micrometer and a quantum efficiency of 50%. With its very high charged particle background rejection efficiency of better than 99% the detector is best suited for deep exposures to reach so far unprecedented low x-ray flux limits, and also for imaging of extended low surface brightness objects. We describe the detector, report on its in- orbit performance, and present some highlights of the ROSAT all-sky survey and from pointed PSPC observations.

Citation Download Citation

Ulrich G. Briel and Elmar Pfeffermann "ROSAT position-sensitive proportional counter and its in-orbit performance", Proc. SPIE 2518, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy VI, (1 September 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.218371

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