| The development of an imaging X-ray detector (the second generation of the Marshall Imaging X-ray Experiment; MIXE2) used with a coded aperture imaging system for high-altitude balloon-borne hard X-ray astronomy is discussed in this dissertation. The design of a microstrip proportional counter and its fabrication, the calibration of the detector system, observations during a high-altitude balloon flight from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, a performance analysis of the telescope, and preliminary data analysis for black hole candidate, Cygnus X-1 are all reviewed. Finally proposals for further improvement on the MIXE2 and for a future balloon-borne experiment are made. |
