Detecting X-rays with an optical imaging chamberThe light emitted by electron avalanches in a parallel plate chamber can be used to image the tracks of photoelectrons liberated by the interaction of an incident X-ray with the gas filling the chamber. The different morphologies of photoelectron tracks and minimum ionizing tracks can be used for charged particle rejection. The initial direction (before scattering) of the liberated photoelectron also contains information about the polarization of the incident radiation. We have built a small test chamber with which we have imaged photoelectron tracks using an intensified CCD camera. Our results show that optical imaging could be used in a hard X-ray imaging polarimeter useful for astronomy.
Document ID
19930045505
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Austin, Robert A. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Ramsey, Brian D. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: In: EUV, X-ray, and gamma-ray instrumentation for astronomy III; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Diego, CA, July 22-24, 1992 (A93-29476 10-35)
Publisher: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers