Rotational Modulation Collimator

Rotational Modulation Collimators (or RMCs) are a specialization of the modulation collimator, an imaging device invented by Minoru Oda. Devices of this type create images of high energy X-rays (or other radiations that cast shadows). Since high energy X-rays are not easily focused, such optics have found applications in various instruments. RMCs selectively block and unblock X-rays in a way which depends on their incoming direction, converting image information into time variations. Various mathematical transformations can then reconstitute the image of the source.

RHESSI is the first mission to make use of Rotational Modulation Collimators in space.

References

* [http://www.physicstoday.org/pt/vol-54/iss-9/p74.html Physics Today Obituary]
* [http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/nuggets/?page=article&article_id=8 RHESSI Imaging Explained]