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Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array

K. Jahoda·C. B. Markwardt·Y. Radeva·A. Rots·M. J. Stark·J. H. Swank·T. E. Strohmayer·W. Zhang
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Abstract

We present the calibration and background model for the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) aboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The energy calibration is systematics limited below 10 keV with deviations from a power-law fit to the Crab nebula plus pulsar less than 1%. Unmodelled variations in the instrument background amount to less than 2% of the observed background below 10 keV and less than 1% between 10 and 20 keV. Individual photon arrival times are accurate to 4.4 micro-seconds at all times during the mission and to 2.5 micro-seconds after 29 April 1997. The peak pointing direction of the five collimators is known to a precision of a few arc-seconds

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K. Jahoda, C. B. Markwardt, Y. Radeva, A. Rots, M. J. Stark, J. H. Swank, T. E. Strohmayer, W. Zhang. 2006-01-03. Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array. https://doi.org/10.1086/500659

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