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Gilbreth, C. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Gilbreth, C. W..

High resolution large area modular array of reflectors /LAMAR/ Wolter type I X-ray telescope for Spacelab

The Spacelab Wolter type I X-ray telescope, which is intended for both astronomical observations and the functional verification of the future Large Area Modular Array of Reflectors (LAMAR) concept, comprises five mirrors and is designed to have a blur circle radius of 20 arcsec, with effective areas of (1) 400 sq cm at 0.25 keV, (2) 200 sq cm in the 0.5-2.0 keV range, and (3) 50 sq cm between 2 and 5 keV. A rotary interchange mechanism allows either of two imaging proportional counters to be placed at the telescope focus. The telescope's primary objective is the observational study of galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources, extending the work of the Einstein Observatory to fainter sources and higher energies. Secondarily, the costs and performance to be expected from the use of this telescope type in the LAMAR mission will be assessed.

Catura, R. C.↗

Control of the Soft X-ray Polychromator on the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite

The Soft X-ray Polychromator on the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite consists of two largely independent instruments: the Flat Crystal Spectrometer, a highly collimated scanning spectrometer mounted on a raster platform, and the Bent Crystal Spectrometer, a broadly collimated spectrometer providing high time-resolution (128 ms) spectra for the study of rapidly evolving phenomena. Each instrument is controlled by a microcomputer system built around an RCA 1802 microprocessor. This paper presents a discussion of the motivation for using a microprocessor in this application, and the design concepts that were implemented. The effectiveness of the approach as seen after several months of operation will also be discussed.

Springer, L. A.↗

The soft X-ray polychromator for the Solar Maximum Mission

The paper considers the soft X-ray polychromator (XRP) operating in the 1.4-22.4 A range of the soft X-ray spectrum which includes many emission lines important for the diagnosis of plasmas in the 1.5-50 million deg temperature range. The flat crystal scanning spectrometer provides for a channel polychromatic mapping of flares and active regions in the resonance lines of O VIII, Ne IX, and Mg XI; in its spectral scanning mode it covers essentially the entire 1.4-22.5 A region.

Acton, L. W.↗