High Sensitivity Detectors for Few-Kev X-Rays

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Abstract
Three different types of instrumentation with high detection sensitivity for investigation of cosmic x-ray sources are considered in some detail. The first instrument is designed for detection of photons in the 2 to 20 keV energy interval. Large aperture is achieved by ganging together the outputs of many individual gas proportional counters. An x-ray experiment with a total aperture of ~0.1 m2 has been constructed for use on the first Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. The overall nature of this package is discussed and some details of the behavior of the gas counters and their associated electronics are given. Data from flight of similar well-collimated counters on Aerobee rockets suggests the background counting rate is proportional to the wall area of the gas counter. Therefore, instruments combining x-ray optics with a smaller detector are of value. Systems using both aplanatic and Venetian blind optics are considered. Some details are given of a rocketsized Venetian blind detector that was flown for investigation of 0.2 to 3 keV photons.

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