Measurement of the Atmospheric 0. 511 Mev Gamma Rays with a High Resoulution Spectrometer
Abstract
A report is presented of the measurement of the 511 keV gamma-rays in the atmosphere using an actively collimated solid state detector. This high resolution (1.7 keV at 511 keV) gamma-ray spectrometer was flown on a balloon over Palestine, Texas, USA, on 28th August 1979. The counting rates of 511 keV photons were measured at various atmospheric depths. It is concluded that the observed rate mainly owes its origin to two components: atmospheric 511 keV photons leaking through the shield and annihilation photons resulting from the beta(plus) decay of the radioactive nuclei produced locally as a result of proton and neutron interactions in the atmosphere.
- Publication:
-
International Cosmic Ray Conference
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981ICRC....1..107A
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Atmospheric Radiation;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Gamma Ray Spectrometers;
- High Resolution;
- Background Radiation;
- Balloon-Borne Instruments;
- Collimators;
- Neutrons;
- Particle Interactions;
- Particle Production;
- Photons;
- Protons;
- Space Radiation;
- ASTRONOMICAL SPECTROSCOPY;
- ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION;
- GAMMA RAY ASTRONOMY;
- GAMMA RAY SPECTROMETERS;
- HIGH RESOLUTION;
- BACKGROUND RADIATION;
- BALLOON-BORNE INSTRUMENTS;
- COLLIMATORS;
- NEUTRONS;
- PARTICLE INTERACTIONS;
- PARTICLE PRODUCTION;
- PHOTONS;
- PROTONS