The estimation of background production by cosmic rays in high-energy gamma-ray telescopes.
Abstract
A calculational method of estimating instrumental background in high energy γ-ray telescopes, using the hadronic Monte Carlo code FLUKA87, is presented. The method is applied to the SAS-2 and EGRET telescope designs, and is also used to explore the level of background to be expected for alternative configurations of the proposed GRITS telescope, which adapts the external fuel tank of a Space Shuttle as a γ-ray telescope with very large collecting area. Background produced in proton beam tests of EGRET is much less than the predicted level. The authors predict that the background in EGRET will be no more than 4 - 10% of the extragalactic diffuse gamma radiation.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
- Pub Date:
- April 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1109/23.289356
- Bibcode:
- 1991ITNS...38..553E
- Keywords:
-
- Background Radiation;
- Cosmic Rays;
- Gamma Ray Spectra;
- Gamma Ray Telescopes;
- Cos-B Satellite;
- External Tanks;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Protons;
- Space Radiation;
- Gamma-Ray Telescopes