The transient gamma-ray spectrometer: A new high resolution detector for gamma-ray burst spectroscopy

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · American Astronomical Society, Bulletin; (United States)

OSTI ID:5780574

Seifert, H; Baker, R; Cline, T L; Gehrels, N; Jermakian, J; Nolan, T; Ramaty, R; Sheppard, D A; Smith, G; Stilwell, D E; Teegarden, B J; Trombka, J; Owens, A; Cork, C P; Landis, D A; Luke, P N; Madden, N W; Malone, D; Pehl, R H; Yaver, H ; Hurley, K; Mathias, S; Post, Jr, A H

The Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (TGRS) to be flown aboard the WIND spacecraft is primarily designed to perform high resolution spectroscopy of transient gamma-ray events, such as cosmic [gamma]-ray bursts and solar flares, over the energy range 20 keV to 10 MeV with an expected spectroscopic resolution of E/[delta]E = 500. The detector itself consists of a 215 cm[sup 3] high purity n-type Ge crystal kept at cryogenic temperatures by a passive radiative cooler. The geometric field of view defined by the cooler is 170[degrees]. To avoid continuous triggers caused by soft solar events, a thin Be/Cu sun-shield around the sides of the cooler has been provided. A passive Mo/Pb occulter, which modulates signals from within [+-]5[degrees] of the ecliptic plane at the spacecraft spin frequency, is used to identify and study solar flares, as well as emission from the galactic plane and center. Thus, in addition to transient event measurements, the instrument will allow the search for possible diffuse background lines and monitor the 511 keV positron annihilation radiation from the galactic center. In order to handle the typically large burst count rates which can be in excess of 100 kHz, burst data are stored directly in an on-board 2.75 Mbit burst memory with an absolute timing accuracy of [+-]1.5 ms after ground processing. This capacity is sufficient to store the entire spectral data set of all but the largest bursts. The experiment is scheduled to be launched on a Delta II launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral in the fall of 1993.

• OSTI ID: 5780574
• Journal Information: American Astronomical Society, Bulletin; (United States), Vol. 24:2; ISSN 0002-7537
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
DESIGN
SPECIFICATIONS
ACCURACY
COSMIC GAMMA SOURCES
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
GAMMA ASTRONOMY
GAMMA DETECTION
RESOLUTION
SOLAR FLARES
ASTRONOMY
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
DETECTION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANNING
RADIATION DETECTION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SPECTROMETERS
440103* - Radiation Instrumentation- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation