Avalanche photodiode measurements of the solar soft x-ray irradiance

Scott M. Bailey; Erica M. Rodgers; Teresa M. Garcia; Kevin Abnett; Richard H. Ruhkick; Jay Helmericks; Steven Hill

doi:10.1117/12.618214

15 September 2005 Avalanche photodiode measurements of the solar soft x-ray irradiance

Scott M. Bailey, Erica M. Rodgers, Teresa M. Garcia, Kevin Abnett, Richard H. Ruhkick, Jay Helmericks, Steven Hill

Proceedings Volume 5901, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation; 590109 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.618214
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Avalanche Photodiode X-ray Spectrometer (AXS) is an optics free spectrometer operating in the 400 eV - 10 keV energy range. The purpose of the instrument is to measure the solar full disk irradiance from .1 to 2 nm with a spectral resolution on the order of ΔE/E equal to approximately 15%. This spectral region is a key and highly variable energy source to the lower thermosphere. The instrument was developed for sounding rocket use and, in addition to the science objectives, is used for underflight calibration of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) X-ray instruments. Photon events from an avalanche photodiode produce electron showers that are detected by analog electronics. Pulse height analysis yields the energy of the impacting photon. By recording the number of events per pulse height bin, the AXS produces a spectrum. This instrument has been developed at the University of Alaska (UAF) and was flown on a sounding rocket on October 15, 2004. Calibrations were performed at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF) III facility in Gaithersburg Maryland. In this paper the instrument design and calibration are discussed as well as both laboratory and rocket flight measurements.

Citation Download Citation

Scott M. Bailey, Erica M. Rodgers, Teresa M. Garcia, Kevin Abnett, Richard H. Ruhkick, Jay Helmericks, and Steven Hill "Avalanche photodiode measurements of the solar soft x-ray irradiance", Proc. SPIE 5901, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation, 590109 (15 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.618214

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