A Low Energy Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter for the SAX-X-Ray Astronomy Satellite

Abstract

AbstractThe payload of the italian/Dutch satellite SAX will include a set of four concentrators each with a geometric area of 90 cm2. Imaging GSPCs will be located at the focal planes of the concetrators. The Space Science Department of ESA will provide one of these GSPCs which will be sensitive to X-rays with energies between 0.1-10 keV. In order to achieve such a low-energy energy response, a driftless configuration and a thin plastic window have been adopted. At 6 keV the collecting area will be 50 cm2 and the energy and angular resolutions 8% and 1.6′ FWHM, respectively.