Periodic sampling and count rate correction of the low energy X-ray telescope on board the Insight- Hard X-ray modulation telescope

Abstract

The Low Energy X-ray Telescope (LE) is an important instrument of the Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), which performs scanning and point observation in the soft X-ray energy band (0.7–13 keV). Since its launch in 2017, it has conducted a large number of scientific observations and achieved significant astronomical discoveries. LE is composed of three detector boxes and an electronic control box. The data acquisition system of LE is designed to use periodic sampling, which solves the problem of unstable noise peaks. Data loss may occur when observing X-ray bursts, and periodic sampling provides a method of correcting light curves. In addition, in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) or where the count rate of the particle monitor on the Insight-HXMT is very high, LE automatically switches into SAA operating mode, and only a small number of events are recorded. After data correction, the light curves can be estimated to expand the astronomical achievements of LE.