The Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

Author

Owens, A. ; Baker, R. ; Cline, T.L. ; Gehrels, N. ; Jermakian, J. ; Nolan, T. ; Ramaty, R. ; Smith, G. ; Stilwell, D.E. ; Teegarden, B.J. ; Trombka, J. ; Yaver, H. ; Cork, C.P. ; Landis, D.A. ; Luke, P.N. ; Maden, N.W. ; Malone, D. ; Pehl, R.H. ; Hurley,

Author_Institution

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Volume

38

Issue

2

fYear

1991

fDate

4/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

559

Lastpage

567

Abstract

The authors describe the Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (TGRS) to be flown onboard the WIND spacecraft. This instrument is designed to detect cosmic γ-ray bursts over the energy range of 20 keV to 10 MeV with an expected spectroscopic resolution of 2 keV at 1 MeV (E /ΔE=500). The active detection element is a 215-cm ³high-purity n-type Ge crystal cooled to cryogenic temperatures by a passive radiative cooler. The geometric field of view (FOV) defined by the cooler is 170° FWFM. Burst data are stored directly in an onboard 2.75-Mb burst memory with an absolute timing accuracy of ±1.5 ms. This capacity is sufficient to store the entire spectral data set of all but the largest burst. In addition to burst measurements, the instrument will also study solar flares, search for possible diffuse background lines, and monitor the 511-keV positron annihilation radiation from the galactic center. The experiment is scheduled to be launched on a Delta II launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral on December 31, 1992

Keywords

astronomical telescopes; cosmic ray apparatus; gamma-ray astronomy; gamma-ray spectrometers; 20 to 10000 keV; Cape Canaveral; Delta II launch vehicle; Ge crystal; TGRS; Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer; WIND spacecraft; absolute timing accuracy; active detection element; astronomical telescope; burst memory; cosmic γ-ray bursts; cryogenic temperatures; diffuse background lines; galactic center; geometric field of view; high-purity n-type; passive radiative cooler; positron annihilation; satellite instrumentation; solar flares; spectroscopic resolution; Accuracy; Cryogenics; Energy resolution; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Instruments; Space vehicles; Spectroscopy; Temperature; Timing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.289357

Filename

289357