High-pressure gas-scintillation proportional counter: performance characteristics of the scientific model

We present the performance characteristics of a High Tech scientific model of the High Pressure Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter (HPGSPC) that has been developed as a prototype detector for the Italian X-ray Astronomy satellite SAX. We give some insight on the technology employed and we give an outline of one of the main areas of interest for the HPGSPC in the framework of the SAX mission.