SIGHT: a balloon hard X-ray telescope

Abstract

We report on progress we have made toward developing a large area, high pressure xenon gas scintillator for hard X-ray astrophysics. Proof test results for a low mass pressure vessel are presented. We discuss the design of a high voltage multiplier board operating inside the scintillation chamber. We report on the development of TMAE based proportional tubes for detecting primary scintillation in the xenon. Finally, we describe Monte Carlo tests of a scheme to use conventional photomultiplier tubes.