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arXiv · 1505.05835

Telescope performance and image simulations of the balloon-borne coded-mask protoMIRAX experiment

A. V. Penacchioni·J. Braga·M. A. Castro·F. D'Amico
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Abstract

In this work we present the results of imaging simulations performed with the help of the GEANT4 package for the protoMIRAX hard X-ray balloon experiment. The instrumental background was simulated taking into account the various radiation components and their angular dependence, as well as a detailed mass model of the experiment. We modeled the meridian transits of the Crab Nebula and the Galatic Centre region during balloon flights in Brazil ($\sim -23^{\circ}$ of latitude and an altitude of $\sim 40 \thinspace$ km) and introduced the correspondent spectra as inputs to the imaging simulations. We present images of the Crab and of three sources in the Galactic Centre region: 1E 1740.7-2942, GRS 1758-258 and GX 1+4. The results show that the protoMIRAX experiment is capable of making spectral and timing observations of bright hard X-ray sources as well as important imaging demonstrations that will contribute to the design of the MIRAX satellite mission.

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A. V. Penacchioni, J. Braga, M. A. Castro, F. D'Amico. 2015-05-21. Telescope performance and image simulations of the balloon-borne coded-mask protoMIRAX experiment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jheap.2015.01.001

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