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Observational Techniques

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X-Ray Astronomy

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 43))

Abstract

Two factors dominate the character of experiments in X-ray astronomy. One is that because of the strong attenuation in the atmosphere, as illustrated in Figure 2.1, instruments must be carried to great altitudes before useful observations can be conducted. Having left the Earth’s surface, the experimenter must provide his own inertial platform and a means of knowing where he is looking. Two, that the X-ray photons are of such high energy that their interaction in matter yields an observable event. This, coupled with the low flux rates from even the strongest sources, means that single photon counting is unavoidable, and that most physically determined quantities are limited by count statistics.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass., USA

    Herbert Gursky & Daniel Schwartz

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  1. Herbert Gursky
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  2. Daniel Schwartz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

    Riccardo Giacconi  & Herbert Gursky  & 

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© 1974 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht-Holland

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Gursky, H., Schwartz, D. (1974). Observational Techniques. In: Giacconi, R., Gursky, H. (eds) X-Ray Astronomy. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 43. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2105-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2105-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-0387-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-2105-0

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