CUBIC: a nondispersive diffuse x-ray background spectrometer

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Abstract
The Cosmic Unresolved X-ray Background InsLrumenl using CCDs (CUBIC ) is designed to obtain spectral observations of the Diffuse X-ray Background (DXRB) with moderate spectral resolution (E/E 10—60) over the energy range 0.2 — 10 keV using mechanically collimated CCDs. It will be launched on the NASA/Argentine minisat SA C-B in December 1994. At this time, it is the only planned satellite payload devoted to the study of the spectrum of the DXRB. Observations will consist of 1—2 day pointed exposures of each target direction, resulting in a series of high quality spectra. Over the anticipated 3 year lifetime of the satellite, CUBIC will be able to study up to 50% of the sky with 5° x 5° spatial resolution for the subkilovolt Galactic diffuse background, and with 1O x 1O spatial resolution for the extragalactic diffuse background above 2 keV. CUBIC will obtain high quality non-dispersive spectra of soft X-ray emission from the interstellar medium, supernova remnants, and some bright sources, and will make a sensitive search for line emission or other features in the extragalactic cosmic X-ray background from 2 — 10 keY

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