Improved Background Model for the Large Area X-Ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) Instrument on board AstroSat

Abstract

Abstract We present an improved background model for the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) detectors on board AstroSat. Because of the large collecting area and high pressure, the LAXPC instrument has a large background count rate, which varies during the orbit. Apart from the variation with latitude and longitude during the orbit there is a prominent quasi-diurnal variation which has not been previously modeled. Using over 5 yr of background observations, we determined the period of the quasi-diurnal variation to be 84,495 s and using this period it is possible to account for the variation and also identify time intervals where the fit is not good. These lead to a significant improvement in the background model. The quasi-diurnal variation can be ascribed to the changes in charged particle flux in the near-Earth orbit.