The performance of a multistep proportional counter for use in x-ray astronomy

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 UTC 1987 · IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.1987.4334700· OSTI ID:6415096

Ramsey, B D; Weisskopf, M C

The addition of a parallel field preamplification region has been shown to dramatically improve the performance of a standard multiwire proportional counter, permitting high overall gas gains to be achieved, a prerequisite for good spatial resolution, without in any way compromising energy resolution. The resulting device, known as a multistep detector, has been tested over a wide range of operating conditions and fill gas mixtures. Results are presented detailing the performance available with argon and xenon as the principle gases, these being of particular relevance to x-ray astronomy.

• Research Organization: Space Science Lab., Code ES65, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 35812
• OSTI ID: 6415096
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; (United States) Vol. NS-34:3; ISSN IETNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFIERS
ARGON
ASTRONOMY
DISPERSIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
GASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MIXTURES
MULTIWIRE PROPORTIONAL CHAMBERS
NONMETALS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PREAMPLIFIERS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATIONS
RADIOASTRONOMY
RARE GASES
RESOLUTION
SPATIAL RESOLUTION
TESTING
X RADIATION
XENON