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RXTE Guest Observer Faciliity

Proportional Counter Array (PCA)

Mission: XTE.

The PCA is an array of five proportional counters with a total collecting area of 6500 square cm. The instrumental properties are:

  • Energy range: 2 - 60 keV
  • Energy resolution: < 18% at 6 keV
  • Time resolution: 1 microsec
  • Spatial resolution: collimator with 1 degree FWHM
  • Detectors: 5 proportional counters
  • Collecting area: 6500 square cm
  • Layers: 1 Propane veto; 3 Xenon, each split into two; 1 Xenon veto layer
  • Sensitivity: 0.1 mCrab
  • Background: 2 mCrab
Events detected by the PCA will be processed on board by the EDS before insertion into the telemetry stream.

The PCA was built by the EUD (formerly 'LHEA') at GSFC. For more information, please see the PCA team page.

The PCA principal investigator is Dr. Jean H. Swank.


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This page is maintained by the RXTE GOF and was last modified on Tuesday, 08-Aug-2006 16:52:36 EDT.

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