A balloon-borne Ge/Li/ spectrometer for gamma-ray astronomy
Abstract
On June 10, 1974, a new high-resolution gamma ray spectrometer operating in the energy range of 0.05 to 10 MeV was successfully balloon-flight tested. This system uses four 40 cu cm Ge(Li) crystals in a single cryostat as prime sensors. A 6.35 cm thick CsI (Na) shield provides background rejection and collimation, defining a solid angle of 0.095 sr. Cooling is provided by a liquid-nitrogen dewar. The system was highly stable with spectral resolution of better than 2.5 keV at 1 MeV for the flight duration. The background total count rate was about 20 counts/sec. Numerous lines were observed, most of which originated from secondary neutron interactions in the spectrometer. The sensitivity of the system to line emissions originating in cosmic point sources is 0.0001 to 0.001 photons per sq cm s over the energy range.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear Instruments and Methods
- Pub Date:
- 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0029-554X(75)90311-0
- Bibcode:
- 1975NucIM.127..115J
- Keywords:
-
- Balloon-Borne Instruments;
- Flight Tests;
- Gamma Rays;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- X Ray Spectroscopy;
- Balloon Flight;
- Cryogenic Equipment;
- Energy Absorption;
- Germanium Compounds;
- High Resolution;
- Liquid Nitrogen;
- Systems Stability;
- Instrumentation and Photography