The GEMS photoelectric x-ray polarimeters

J. K. Black; P. Deines-Jones; J. E. Hill; T. Iwahashi; K. Jahoda; P. Kaaret; T. R. Kallman; C. J. Martoff; Z. Prieskorn; J. Swank; T. Tamagawa

doi:10.1117/12.857736

29 July 2010 The GEMS photoelectric x-ray polarimeters

J. K. Black, P. Deines-Jones, J. E. Hill, T. Iwahashi, K. Jahoda, P. Kaaret, T. R. Kallman, C. J. Martoff, Z. Prieskorn, J. Swank, T. Tamagawa

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7732, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 77320X (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857736
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) is an astrophysical observatory dedicated to X-ray polarimetry (2-10 keV) and is being developed for launch in 2014. To maximize the polarization sensitivity of the observatory, GEMS uses polarimeters based on the photoelectric effect with a gas micropattern time projection chamber (TPC). We describe the TPC polarimeter concept and the details of the GEMS implementation, including factors that affect the ultimate polarization sensitivity, including quantum efficiency, modulation factor, systematic errors, and background.

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J. K. Black, P. Deines-Jones, J. E. Hill, T. Iwahashi, K. Jahoda, P. Kaaret, T. R. Kallman, C. J. Martoff, Z. Prieskorn, J. Swank, and T. Tamagawa "The GEMS photoelectric x-ray polarimeters", Proc. SPIE 7732, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 77320X (29 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857736

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