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Gas-Čerenkov Detector for 10 to 100 MeV Gamma Rays

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

H. Helmken  and
J. Hoffman
H. Helmken
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard College Observatory
J. Hoffman
Affiliation:
Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A.

Extract

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A gas-Čerenkov detector sensitive to gamma radiation above 10 MeV is currently undergoing final testing. The detector relies on the conversion and Compton scattering of gamma rays in a plastic scintillator and detecting the resulting electrons via the Čerenkov light they emit in a 2-m propane-gas column. Spectral information can be attained by varying gas pressure during the flight. The present detector is approximately 34″ in diameter, 91″ in length and weight 450 lb. At 20 MeV, an angular resolution of 6° half angle is expected. With an efficiency of 1 to 2%, a 10 hr balloon-borne system should achieve a point-source sensitivity of approximately 5× 10−5 photon cm−2 s−1 above 20 MeV. A satellite version of the detector is expected to have a sensitivity of approximately 1.3 × 10−5 photon cm−2 s−1 above 10 MeV for a 1-month galactic-plane scan mode. (Helmken and Hoffman, 1970.)

Type
Part I: Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 41: New Technique in Space Astronomy , 1971 , pp. 77 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1971 

References

Helmken, H. and Hoffman, J.: 1970, Nucl. Instr. Meth. 80, 125.Google Scholar