Title :
Activation in the COMPTEL double-scattering gamma-ray telescope
Author :
Morris, D.J. ; McConnell, M.L. ; Ryan, J.M. ; Diehl, R. ; Oberlack, U.G. ; Schonfelder, V. ; Varendorff, M. ; Weidenspointner, G. ; De Boer, H. ; Bennett, K.
Author_Institution :
Space Sci. Center, New Hampshire Univ., Durham, NH, USA
Abstract :
The COMPTEL gamma-ray telescope has been operating in low Earth orbit for six years, since the launch of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory in April 1991. Comparisons of data for different orbits and epochs show evidence of activation on time scales from minutes (27 Mg, τ1/2=9.5 min) to years (22Na, τ 1/2=2.58 yr). The activation is correlated with both the orbital altitude and solar cosmic-ray modulation. Because it requires coincident measurements in two different detectors, COMPTEL is most susceptible to instrumental background events in which two or more photons are produced simultaneously
Keywords :
astronomical instruments; astronomical telescopes; cosmic ray interactions; gamma-ray apparatus; gamma-ray astronomy; gamma-ray detection; 1 to 30 MeV; CGRO; COMPTEL; Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory; activation; astronomical telescope; cosmic ray irradiation; detector noise; double-scattering gamma-ray telescope; induced radioactivity; instrument; instrumental background event; orbital altitude; radioactivation; solar cosmic-ray modulation; Extraterrestrial measurements; Hydrogen; Identity-based encryption; Isotopes; Neutrons; Photomultipliers; Photonic integrated circuits; Protons; Space vehicles; Telescopes;
Conference_Titel :
High Energy Radiation Background in Space, 1997 Conference on the
Conference_Location :
Snowmass, CO
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-4335-2
DOI :
10.1109/CHERBS.1997.660241
