Polarimetry with the Soft Gamma-ray Detector onboard ASTRO-H
Abstract
X-ray and gamma-ray polarimetry is a powerful probe to investigate emission mechanisms and geometries of astrophysical sources. It provides vital information on ordered magnetic field and accretion disk around compact objects. The Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) onboard ASTRO-H satellite, scheduled for launch in 2014, is a highly-sensitive spectrometer in the 40-600 keV energy band. Since the SGD employs a Si/CdTe Compton camera surrounded by a thick BGO active shield, it is also sensitive to polarization in the 50-200 keV energy range. We have been developing the SGD through extensive tests in laboratory, detailed Monte-Carlo simulation and verification tests at synchrotron facilities (e.g., Takeda et al. 2010; Tajima et al. 2010). In this contribution, we will present the SGD instrumentation, prototype testing and expected performance as a gamma-ray polarimeter.
- Publication:
-
39th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012cosp...39.1259M