In this work we present the results of imaging simulations performed with the help of the GEANT4 package for the protoMIRAX hard X-ray balloon experiment. The instrumental background was simulated taking into account the various radiation components and their angular dependence, as well as a detailed mass model of the experiment. We modeled the meridian transits of the Crab Nebula and the Galatic Centre region during balloon flights in Brazil (∼−23∘ of latitude and an altitude of ∼40 km) and introduced the correspondent spectra as inputs to the imaging simulations. We present images of the Crab and of three sources in the Galactic Centre region: 1E 1740.7-2942, GRS 1758-258 and GX 1+4. The results show that the protoMIRAX experiment is capable of making spectral and timing observations of bright hard X-ray sources as well as important imaging demonstrations that will contribute to the design of the MIRAX satellite mission.
@article{arxiv.1505.05835,
title = {Telescope performance and image simulations of the balloon-borne coded-mask protoMIRAX experiment},
author = {A. V. Penacchioni and J. Braga and M. A. Castro and F. D'Amico},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1505.05835},
year = {2015}
}