In-flight Performance of the High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer

Abstract

The High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) is one of three scientific instruments aboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), which was launched on December 30, 1995. RXTE performs timing and spectral studies of bright x-ray sources to determine the physical parameters of these systems. The HEXTE consists of two independent clusters of detectors, each cluster containing four NaI(Tl)/CsI(Na) phoswich scintillation counters sharing a common 1 degree FWHM field of view. The field of view of each cluster is switched on- and off-source to provide near real-time background measurements. The net open area of the eight detectors is 1600 cm2, and each detector covers the energy range 15-250 keV with an average energy resolution of 15.4% at 60 keV. The in-flight performance of the HEXTE is described, the light curve and spectrum of the Crab Nebula/Pulsar is given, and the 15-240 keV spectrum of the weak source, active galaxy MCG 8-11-11 is presented to demonstrate the weak source spectral capabilities of HEXTE.

30 pages, 14 figures, 4 tables, accepted by Ap. J., to be published in vol 496, March 20, 1998

Cited by in corpus (257)

• Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array
• Going with the flow: can the base of jets subsume the role of compact accretion disk coronae?
• GRS 1915+105 and the Disc-Jet Coupling in Accreting Black Hole Systems
• Multiwavelength Observations of Strong Flares From the TeV-Blazar 1ES 1959+650
• Magnetic Fields of Accreting X-Ray Pulsars with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer
• WATCHDOG: A Comprehensive All-Sky Database of Galactic Black Hole X-ray Binaries
• The Third Swift Burst Alert Telescope Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog
• In-Orbit Performance of the Hard X-ray Detector on board Suzaku
• The "universal" radio/X-ray flux correlation : the case study of the black hole GX 339-4
• The Second Swift BAT Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog
• Hard X-ray Emission From Low Mass X-ray Binaries
• Discovery of luminous pulsed hard X-ray emission from anomalous X-ray pulsars 1RXS J1708-4009, 4U 0142+61 and 1E 2259+586 by INTEGRAL and RXTE
• Multiwavelength Observations of Markarian 421 in March 2001: an Unprecedented View on the X-ray/TeV Correlated Variability
• High resolution Chandra HETG and RXTE observations of GRS 1915+105 : A hot disk atmosphere & cold gas enriched in Iron and Silicon
• The Chandra HETGS and RXTE view of GRS 1915+105
• Multi-wavelength observations of the 2002 outburst of GX 339-4: two patterns of X-ray-optical/near-infrared behavior
• The First Swift BAT Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog
• Evaluating Spectral Models and the X-ray States of Neutron-Star X-ray Transients
• Complete RXTE Spectral Observations of the Black Hole X-ray Nova XTE J1550-564
• Spectral States of XTE J1701-462: Link between Z and Atoll Sources
• Discovery of hard non-thermal pulsed X-ray emission from the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 1841-045
• TeV and Multi-wavelength Observations of Mrk 421 in 2006-2008
• Evidence for accretion rate change during type I X-ray bursts
• The 2003 Outburst of the X-ray Transient H 1743-322: Comparisons with the Black Hole Microquasar XTE J1550-564
• The Multi-INstrument Burst ARchive (MINBAR)
• Long Term Variability of Cygnus X-1. IV. Spectral Evolution 1999-2004
• Helium-rich thermonuclear bursts and the distance to the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658
• Corona, Jet, and Relativistic Line Models for Suzaku/RXTE/Chandra-HETG Observations of the Cygnus X-1 Hard State
• Rapid optical and X-ray timing observations of GX 339-4: multi-component optical variability in the low/hard state
• GRS 1915+105 in "Soft State": Nature of Accretion Disk Wind and Origin of X-Ray Emission
• Patterns of variability in Be/X-ray pulsars during giant outbursts
• Periodic Thermonuclear X-ray Bursts from GS 1826-24 and the Fuel Composition as a Function of Accretion Rate
• INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 in outburst
• RXTE broadband X-ray spectra of intermediate polars and white dwarf mass estimates
• Multi-wavelength observations of the Galactic black hole transient 4U1543-47 during outburst decay: state transitions and jet contribution
• Simultaneous X-Ray and TeV Gamma-Ray Observations of the TeV Blazar Markarian 421 during February and May 2000
• Low Luminosity States of the Black Hole Candidate GX 339-4. I. ASCA and Simultaneous Radio/RXTE Observations
• Complete Multiwavelength Evolution of Galactic Black Hole Transients During Outburst Decay I: Conditions for "Compact" Jet Formation
• Constraining Jet/Disk Geometry and Radiative Processes in Stellar Black Holes XTE J1118+480 and GX 339-4
• Long term variability of Cygnus X-1 V. State definitions with all sky monitors
• Multiwavelength observations of 3C 454.3. III. Eighteen months of AGILE monitoring of the "Crazy Diamond"
• Fe K Emission and Absorption in the XMM-EPIC Spectrum of the Seyfert Galaxy IC 4329a
• The truncated and evolving inner accretion disc of the black hole GX 339-4
• Broadband X-ray Spectra of GX 339-4 and the Geometry of Accreting Black Holes in the Hard State
• Discovery of a Third Harmonic Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of 4U 0115+63
• Pulse phase resolved analysis of the HMXB Cen X-3 over two binary orbits
• The soft gamma-ray pulsar population: an high-energy overview
• X-ray Bursts from the Transient Magnetar Candidate XTE J1810-197
• Confirmation of Two Cyclotron Lines in Vela X-1
• A Further Study of the Luminosity-Dependent Cyclotron Resonance Energies of the Binary X-ray Pulsar 4U0115+63 with RXTE
• The relativistic iron line profile in the Seyfert 1 Galaxy IC4329a
• No anti-correlation between cyclotron line energy and X-ray flux in 4U 0115+634
• A Decade in the Life of EXO 2030+375: A Multi-wavelength Study of an Accreting X-ray Pulsar
• Pulse-amplitude-resolved spectroscopy of bright accreting pulsars: indication of two accretion regimes
• Hard X-Ray Spectra of Broad-Line Radio Galaxies from the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer
• A 0535+26 in the August/September 2005 outburst observed by RXTE and INTEGRAL
• What ignites on the neutron star of 4U 0614+091?
• Revealing accretion onto black holes: X-ray reflection throughout three outbursts of GX 339-4
• Long term variability of Cygnus X-1: VI. Energy-resolved X-ray variability 1999-2011
• Outbursts Large and Small from EXO 2030+375
• Detailed high-energy characteristics of AXP 1RXS J170849-400910 - Probing the magnetosphere using INTEGRAL, RXTE and XMM-Newton
• The X-ray/gamma-ray spectrum of XTE J1550--564 in the very high state
• Correlated intense X-ray and TeV activity of Mrk~501 in 1998 June
• A new Comptonization model for low-magnetized accreting neutron stars in low mass X-ray binaries
• X-ray Observations of BL Lacertae During 1997 Outburst and its Association with Quasar-like Characteristics
• X-ray Nova XTE J1550-564: RXTE Spectral Observations
• Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature in the RXTE Spectrum of 4U 0352+309 (X Per)
• The X-ray spectrum of the newly discovered accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J17511-3057
• X-Ray Observations of XTE J1550-564 During the Decay of the 2000 Outburst - I. Chandra and RXTE Energy Spectra
• Orbital Decay in LMC X-4
• Radio Emission and the Timing Properties of the Hard X-ray State of GRS 1915+105
• High-energy characteristics of the schizophrenic pulsar PSR J1846-0258 in Kes 75
• A Good Long Look at the Black Hole Candidates LMC X-1 and LMC X-3
• Relativistic Iron Line Emission from the Neutron Star Low-mass X-ray Binary 4U 1636-536
• RXTE Discovery of Multiple Cyclotron Lines during the 2004 December Outburst of V0332+53
• The accretion flow to the intermittent accreting ms pulsar, HETE J1900.1-2455, as observed by XMM-Newton and RXTE
• The Galactic black hole transient H1743-322 during outburst decay: connections between timing noise, state transitions and radio emission
• Long term variability of Cygnus X-1, III. Radio-X-ray correlations
• First Constraints on Iron Abundance versus Reflection Fraction from the Seyfert~1 Galaxy MCG--6-30-15
• X-ray and optical monitoring of the peculiar source 4U 1700+24/V934 Her
• 4U 0115+63: phase lags and cyclotron resonant scattering
• Order in the Chaos: Spin-up and Spin-down during the 2002 Outburst of SAX J1808.4-3658
• X-Ray Spectral and Timing Evolution During the Decay of the 1998 Outburst from the Recurrent X-Ray Transient 4U 1630-47
• XTE J1946+274 = GRO J1944+26: An Enigmatic Be/X-ray Binary
• Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonance Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of GX 304-1 with RXTE and Suzaku during Outbursts Detected by MAXI in 2010
• The December 2009 gamma-ray flare of 3C 454.3: the multifrequency campaign
• RXTE Studies of Long-Term X-ray Spectral Variations in 4U 1820-30
• Full Spectral Survey of Active Galactic Nuclei in the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Archive
• Review of X-ray pulsar spacecraft autonomous navigation
• A Comprehensive X-ray Spectral Analysis of the Seyfert 1.5 NGC 3227
• Iron-line and continuum flux variations in the RXTE spectra of the black-hole candidate XTE J1650-500
• The broad iron Kalpha line of Cygnus X-1 as seen by XMM-Newton in the EPIC-pn modified timing mode
• GRO J1008-57: an (almost) predictable transient X-ray binary
• Long term variability of Cygnus X-1: VII. Orbital variability of the focussed wind in Cyg X-1 / HDE 226868 system
• Temporal Variations of Strength and Location of the South Atlantic Anomaly as Measured by RXTE
• Evidence for a Neutron Star in the non-pulsating massive X-ray binary 4U2206+54
• Multiwavelength spectral and high time resolution observations of SWIFT J1753.5-0127: new activity?
• The Spectral Evolution along the Z track of the Bright Neutron Star X-ray Binary GX 17+2
• Broad-band X-Ray Spectra of the Black Hole Candidate GRO J1655-40
• Luminosity dependence of the electron temperature in the bright hard state of the black hole candidate GX 339--4
• A multiwavelength study of Cygnus X-1: the first mid-infrared spectroscopic detection of compact jets
• An RXTE study of M87 and the core of the Virgo cluster
• Timing an Accreting Millisecond Pulsar: Measuring the Accretion Torque in IGR J00291+5934
• Discovery and Modeling of a Flattening of the Positive Cyclotron Line/Luminosity Relation in GX 304-1 with RXTE
• Timing an Accreting Millisecond Pulsar: Measuring the Accretion Torque in IGR J00291+5934
• Hard X-ray emission of the microquasar GRO J1655-40 during the rise of its 2005 outburst
• Swift/BAT and RXTE Observations of the Peculiar X-ray Binary 4U 2206+54 - Disappearance of the 9.6 Day Modulation
• Is SGR 1900+14 a Magnetar?
• Panchromatic observations of the textbook GRB 110205A: constraining physical mechanisms of prompt emission and afterglow
• Broad-band Spectral Evolution of Scorpius X-1 along its Color-Color Diagram
• A Detailed Study of 2S 0114+650 with the RXTE
• Reflection Spectroscopy of the Black Hole Binary XTE J1752-223 in its Long-Stable Hard State
• Spectral and timing properties of the accreting X-ray millisecond pulsar IGR J17511-3057
• An Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE PCA Spectra
• Stability of the Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Feature in Her X-1 with RXTE
• X1908+075: A Pulsar Orbiting in the Stellar Wind of a Massive Companion
• The X-ray Spectrum of SAX J1808.4-3658
• The first cyclotron harmonic of 4U 1538-52
• Decade long RXTE monitoring observations of Be/X-ray binary pulsar EXO 2030+375
• Spectral hardening as a viable alternative to disc truncation in black hole state transitions
• Spectral differences between the radio-loud and radio-quiet low-hard states of GRS 1915+105: possible detection of synchrotron radiation in X-rays
• The Ephemeris and Dipping Spectral Behavior of X1624-490
• Chandra and RXTE Spectra of the Burster GS 1826-238
• Discovery of slow X-ray pulsations in the high-mass X-ray binary 4U 2206+54
• Energy-Dependent Harmonic Ratios of the Cyclotron Features of X0331+53 in the 2004-2005 Outburst
• The 1999 Hercules X-1 Anomalous Low State
• Advances in the RXTE Proportional Counter Array Calibration: Nearing the Statistical Limit
• A Low/Hard State Outburst of XTE J1550-564
• Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 13+1
• Twelve and a Half Years of Observations of Centaurus A with RXTE
• RXTE Observations of the X-ray Pulsar XTE J1855-026 - a Possible New Supergiant System
• Study of the cyclotron feature in MXB 0656-072
• Temporal and spectral evolution in X- and gamma-rays of magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 since its October 2008 outburst: the discovery of a transient hard pulsed component after its January 2009 outburst
• X-Ray Flares and Oscillations from the Black Hole Candidate X-Ray Transient XTE J1650-500 at Low Luminosity
• The Be/X-ray Binary Swift J1626.6-5156 as a Variable Cyclotron Line Source
• Combined Spectral and Timing Analysis of the Black Hole Candidate MAXI J1659-152 Discovered by MAXI and Swift
• The pre-outburst flare of the A 0535+26 August/September 2005 outburst
• Study of the Largest Multiwavelength Campaign of the Microquasar GRS 1915+105
• Revealing the broad iron Kalpha line in Cygnus X-1 through simultaneous XMM-Newton, RXTE, and INTEGRAL observations
• Spectral Survey of X-Ray Bright Active Galactic Nuclei from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
• Characterizing the Evolving X-Ray Spectral Features During a Superburst from 4U 1636-536
• The XMM-Newton View of the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy 3C 120
• Hard X-ray emission of the microquasar GX 339-4 in the low/hard state
• A double-peaked outburst of A 0535+26 observed with INTEGRAL, RXTE, and Suzaku
• An X-ray and optical study of the ultracompact X-ray binary A1246-58
• A Rapid X-ray Flare from Markarian 501
• Long-Term, Continuous Monitoring of the Broad Line Radio Galaxies 3C 390.3 and 3C 120 With the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer
• INTEGRAL observations of AGN in the Galactic Plane
• Analyzing X-ray pulsar profiles: geometry and beam pattern of A 0535+26
• Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of XTE J1946+274
• X-ray broad-band study of the symbiotic X-ray binary 4U 1954+31
• The Orbit of the Eclipsing X-ray Pulsar EXO 1722-363
• Hard X-ray timing and spectral properties of PSR B0540-69
• RXTE observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5506: evidence for reflection from disk and torus
• Correlated radio--X-ray variability of Galactic Black Holes: A radio--X-ray flare in Cygnus X-1
• Revealing the nature of the QPO and its harmonic in GX 339-4 using frequency-resolved spectroscopy
• Spectral and timing analysis of the mHz QPOs in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53
• Deviations from the Flux-Recurrence Time Relationship in GS 1826-238: Potential Transient Spectral Changes
• The photon-index - time-lag correlation in black-hole X-ray binaries
• RXTE observation of NGC 6240: a search for the obscured active nucleus
• The X-ray Power Spectral Density Function and Black Hole Mass Estimate for the Seyfert AGN IC 4329a
• Different X-ray spectral evolution for black hole X-ray binaries in dual tracks of radio-X-ray correlation
• INTEGRAL and RXTE Observations of Centaurus A
• Accretion regimes in the X-ray pulsar 4U 1901+03
• Simultaneous INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of the accreting millisecond pulsar HETE J1900.1-2455
• Unveiling the Nature of the High Energy Source IGR J19140+0951
• Spectro-timing analysis of Cygnus X-1 during a fast state transition
• Millisecond dips in the RXTE/PCA light curve of Sco X-1 and TNO occultation
• X-ray Flux Related Timing and Spectral Features of 2S 1417-62
• On the cyclotron line in Cep X-4
• Correlations between radio and bolometric fluxes in GX 339-4 and H1743-322
• Anti-correlated hard X-ray time lags in Galactic black hole sources
• Is the Lack of Pulsations in Low Mass X-Ray Binaries due to Comptonizing Coronae?
• X-Ray Spectral Variability of PKS 2005-489 During the Spectacular November 1998 Flare
• Simultaneous Observations of GRS 1758-258 in 1997 by VLA, IRAM, SEST, RXTE and OSSE: Spectroscopy and Timing
• X-ray spectral state evolution in IGR J17091-3624 and comparison of its heartbeat oscillation properties with those of GRS 1915+105
• RXTE Studies of X-ray Spectral Variations with Accretion Rate in 4U 1915-05
• A0535+26 in the April 2010 outburst: probing the accretion regime at work
• RXTE Observations of an Outburst of Recurrent X-ray Nova GS 1354-644
• X-ray observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud pulsar PSR B0540-69 and its PWN
• The reawakening of the sleeping X-ray pulsar XTE J1946+274
• Analysis of extremely low signal-to-noise ratio data from INTEGRAL/PICsIT
• The Orbit and Position of the X-ray Pulsar XTE J1855-026 - an Eclipsing Supergiant System
• The new intermediate long bursting source XTE J1701-407
• Conflicting disk inclination estimates for the black hole X-ray binary XTE J1550-564
• RXTE Hard X-ray Observation of A754: Constraining the Hottest Temperature Component and the Intracluster Magnetic Field
• Evolution of the X-ray Profile of the Crab Pulsar
• Study of long-term flux and photon Index distributions of blazars using RXTE observations
• 4U 1909+07: a well-hidden pearl
• Evidence for an Evolving Cyclotron Line Energy in 4U 1538-522
• Outburst of LS V+44 17 Observed by MAXI and RXTE, and Discovery of a Dip Structure in the Pulse Profile
• LMC X-2: The First Extragalactic Z-Source?
• Discovery of delayed spin-up behavior following two large glitches in the Crab pulsar, and the statistics of such processes
• Combining timing characteristics with physical broadband spectral modelling of black hole X-ray binary GX~339$-$4
• A global study of Type B quasi-periodic oscillation in black hole X-ray binaries
• The nature of a broad line radio galaxy: Simultaneous RXTE and Chandra HETG observations of 3C 382
• XMM-Newton long-look observation of the narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS0558-504; I: Spectral analysis
• Broadband X-ray spectrum of intermediate polar V1223 Sgr
• A variable near-infrared counterpart to the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1705-440
• Discovery of a New 89 Second X-ray Pulsar XTE J1906+09
• Limits to the Cas A ${}^{44}$Ti Line Flux and Constraints on the Ejecta Energy and the Compact Source
• Observation of Cen A by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
• Spectral and timing studies of 2S 1417-624 during a giant outburst
• Puzzling thermonuclear burst behaviour from the transient low-mass X-ray binary IGR J17473-2721
• Time evolution of the X-ray and gamma-ray fluxes of the Crab pulsar
• Short term pulse frequency fluctuations of OAO 1657-415 from RXTE observations
• Discovery and evolution of the new black hole candidate Swift J1539.2-6227 during its 2008 outburst
• Relation between spectral changes and the presence of the lower kHz QPO in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53
• Detection of a variable QPO at ~41 mHz in the Be/X-ray transient pulsar 4U 0115+634
• Correlated spectral and temporal changes in 3C 390.3: a new link between AGN and Galactic Black Hole Binaries?
• Relation between the properties of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations and spectral parameters in 4U 1636$-$53
• Hard X-ray timing and spectral characteristics of the energetic pulsar PSR J0205+6449 in supernova remnant 3C58
• Long-Term X-Ray spectral variability of the radio-loud NLS1 galaxy PKS 0558-504
• X-ray Spectral Evolution of Her X-1 in a Low State and the Following Short High State
• The hard X-ray and Ti-44 emission of Cas A
• Exploring the spreading layer of GX 9+9 using RXTE and INTEGRAL
• Is the plateau state in GRS 1915+105 equivalent to canonical hard states?
• Comparison of simulated backgrounds with in-orbit observations for HE, ME and LE onboard Insight-HXMT
• Detection of nearly periodic spin period reversals in Vela X-1 on long time-scales: inkling of solar-like cycle in the donor star?
• Hard X-ray/Soft gamma-ray experiments and missions: overview and prospects
• An Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE HEXTE Spectra
• A Lack of Radio Emission from Neutron Star Low Mass X-ray Binaries
• Do stellar-mass and super-massive black holes have similar dining habits?
• Pulse profile stability of the Crab pulsar
• X-ray Variations at the Orbital Period from Cygnus X-1 in the High/Soft State
• A Suzaku View of Accretion Powered X-ray Pulsar GX 1+4
• Correlated Optical/X-ray Long-term Variability in LMXB 4U1636-536
• RXTE monitoring of Centaurus A
• The giant outburst of 4U 0115+634 in 2011 with Suzaku and RXTE
• The long-stable hard state of XTE J1752-223 and the disk truncation dilemma
• Serendipitous Detections of XTE J1906+09 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
• A precessing Be disk as a possible model for occultation events in GX 304-1
• Disappearance of the Fe K$\alpha$ emission line in Ultra Compact X-ray Binaries 4U 1543-624 and Swift J1756.9-2508
• Fe K$\alpha$ and Fe K$\beta$ line detection in the NuSTAR spectrum of the ultra-bright Z-source Scorpius X-1
• Charged Particle Monitor on the AstroSat mission
• Multiwavelength Observations of GX 339-4 in 1996. I. Daily Light Curves and X-ray and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy
• Spectroradiometry with Space Telescopes
• X-ray Spectra and Pulse Frequency Changes in SAX J2103.5+4545
• An alpha tagged X-ray source for the calibration of space borne X-ray detectors
• HEXTE Studies of Sco X-1 Spectra: Detections of Hard X-Ray Tails Beyond 200 keV
• Instruments of RT-2 Experiment onboard CORONAS-PHOTON and their test and evaluation I: Ground calibration of RT-2/S and RT-2/G
• RXTE/HEXTE Analysis of the Crab Pulsar Glitch of July 2000
• XTE J0111.2-7317 : a nebula-embedded X-ray binary in the SMC
• A curious case of the accretion-powered X-ray pulsar GX 1+4
• Long-Term X-Ray monitoring of NGC6251: Evidence for a jet-dominated radio galaxy
• Swift, RXTE, and INTEGRAL observation of Swift J1922.7-1716
• Phase Evolution of the Crab Pulsar between Radio and X-ray
• Exploring the Jet/Accretion Flow Relationship in Low Disk Luminosity Sources
• Monte-Carlo Applications for Partially Polarized Inverse External-Compton Scattering (MAPPIES) II -- Application to the UV/Soft X-ray Excess in Blazar Spectra
• Hard X-ray Observation of Abell 496
• Observing Rayleigh-Taylor stable and unstable accretion through a Kalman filter analysis of X-ray pulsars in the Small Magellanic Cloud
• A Large Area LaBr3/NaI Phoswich for Hard X-ray Astronomy
• Localisation of the non-thermal X-ray emission of PSR~J2229+6114 from its multi-wavelength pulse profiles
• Did the Crab Pulsar Undergo a Small Glitch in 2006 late March/early April?
• The XGIS instrument on-board THESEUS: the detection plane and on-board electronics
• Studies of Cepheus X-4 during 2018 outburst observed with AstroSat
• Long Term Studies of Z sources with HEXTE/RXTE