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In-flight Performance of the High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

R. E. Rothschild·P. R. Blanco·D. E. Gruber·W. A. Heindl·D. R. MacDonald·D. C. Marsden·M. R. Pelling·L. R. Wayne·P. L. Hink
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Abstract

The High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) is one of three scientific instruments aboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), which was launched on December 30, 1995. RXTE performs timing and spectral studies of bright x-ray sources to determine the physical parameters of these systems. The HEXTE consists of two independent clusters of detectors, each cluster containing four NaI(Tl)/CsI(Na) phoswich scintillation counters sharing a common 1 degree FWHM field of view. The field of view of each cluster is switched on- and off-source to provide near real-time background measurements. The net open area of the eight detectors is 1600 cm2, and each detector covers the energy range 15-250 keV with an average energy resolution of 15.4% at 60 keV. The in-flight performance of the HEXTE is described, the light curve and spectrum of the Crab Nebula/Pulsar is given, and the 15-240 keV spectrum of the weak source, active galaxy MCG 8-11-11 is presented to demonstrate the weak source spectral capabilities of HEXTE.

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R. E. Rothschild, P. R. Blanco, D. E. Gruber, W. A. Heindl, D. R. MacDonald, D. C. Marsden, M. R. Pelling, L. R. Wayne, P. L. Hink. 1997-10-28. In-flight Performance of the High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. https://doi.org/10.1086/305377

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