A compact gamma-ray spectrometer for nuclear astrophysics and planetary science

Zachary Hughes; Manel Errando; Tekeba Olbemo; William Ho

doi:10.1117/12.2630475

31 August 2022 A compact gamma-ray spectrometer for nuclear astrophysics and planetary science

Zachary Hughes, Manel Errando, Tekeba Olbemo, William Ho

Proceedings Volume 12181, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 1218176 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630475
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Conference Poster

Abstract

The source of galactic electron-positron annihilation 511 keV line has yet to be determined. Candidate sources include compact objects, radionuclides from stellar explosions, or the decay of dark matter particles. A major impediment to sensitive astrophysical gamma-ray spectroscopy is instrumental background. In the 200 keV–2 MeV energy range, cosmic-ray irradiation of spacecraft material results in contamination of secondary protons, neutrons, and gamma rays. This contamination is proportional to the spacecraft mass. A detector which maximizes the active detector mass fraction is the best way towards mapping the 511 keV sky and performing gamma-ray spectroscopy of astrophysical sources. We present progress in designing and building a compact, modular gamma-ray spectrometer that can be integrated into future spacecraft missions or as a small-satellite mission. A CubeSAT or SmallSAT-class mission based on such a design would improve sensitivity by an order-of-magnitude over current instruments like INTEGRAL-SPI by having a mass fraction of over 30% compared to INTEGRAL’s 0.6%.

Citation Download Citation

Zachary Hughes, Manel Errando, Tekeba Olbemo, and William Ho "A compact gamma-ray spectrometer for nuclear astrophysics and planetary science", Proc. SPIE 12181, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2022: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 1218176 (31 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630475

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