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Gamma-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (GRIS) instrument and plans for serving SN 1987A

Conference · · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6927350
The Gamma-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (GRIS) is a powerful second-generation high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer. It consists of an array of seven large (typically >200 cm/sup 3/) n-type Germanium detectors surrounded by a thick (15 m) NaI active shield. Its energy range is 0.02 to 10 MeV. A new detector segmentation technique will be employed to reduce the detector background. The ..beta..-decay background component, which is expected to be dominant in the 0.2--2 MeV range, will be suppressed by roughly a factor of 20. The 3sigma GRIS sensitivity to a narrow Fe line at 847 keV (expected to be the most intense from a supernova) will be approx.2 x 10/sup -4/ photons/cm/sup 2/-s for an 8 hr observation of the LMC over Alice Springs, Australia with unsegmented detectors. The instrument in simplified form will be ready to observe SN 1987A in early 1988.
Research Organization:
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
OSTI ID:
6927350
Report Number(s):
CONF-871245-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 170:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English