Auroral X-ray detection from rocket overflights

Abstract

Remote sensing of auroral X-rays from the topside can provide both local and global information concerning X-ray and energetic particle deposition within the middle atmosphere. Usually, contamination of X-ray detectors by corpuscular radiation can severely affect the scope and accuracy of the measurement. Preliminary results obtained with a rocket-borne instrument designed to operate cleanly in a precipitating particle environment are reported. Two dimensional images of the atmospheric bremsstrahlung X-ray sources were also constructed from the detector scan produced by payload translation and coning.