A multiwire proportional counter ͑MWPC͒ based on a backgammon-type design has been developed for the detection of x-ray photons in two dimensions over the energy range of 4 -6 keV. The MWPC was designed for operation in an experimental spectroscopy application requiring single photon counting over a wide range of count rates, high photon detection efficiency and resolution, and a highly linear response function across the detector face. A model based on attenuation of the incident x-ray beam by

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... the various components of the detector is presented and highlights key areas for efficiency optimization. The design, construction, testing procedure, and performance of the backgammon MWPC are presented and all objectives are met including a particularly impressive differential nonlinearity.