Design and Initial Tests of the Tracker-Converter ofthe Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope

Journal Article · Mon Apr 16 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Astroparticle Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.astropartphys.2007.08.010· OSTI ID:902485

Atwood, W B; Bagagli, R; Baldini, L; Bellazzini, R; Barbiellini, G; Belli, F; Borden, T; Brez, A; Brigida, M; Caliandro, G A; Cecchi, C; Cohen-Tanugi, J; DeAngelis, A; Drell, P; Favuzzi, C; Fukazawa, Y; Fusco, P; Gargano, F; Germani, S; Giannitrapani, R ; Giglietto, N

The Tracker subsystem of the Large Area Telescope (LAT) science instrument of the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) mission has been completed and tested. It is the central detector subsystem of the LAT and serves both to convert an incident gamma-ray into an electron-positron pair and to track the pair in order to measure the gamma-ray direction. It also provides the principal trigger for the LAT. The Tracker uses silicon strip detectors, read out by custom electronics, to detect charged particles. The detectors and electronics are packaged, along with tungsten converter foils, in 16 modular, high-precision carbon-composite structures. It is the largest silicon-strip detector system ever built for launch into space, and its aggressive design emphasizes very low power consumption, passive cooling, low noise, high efficiency, minimal dead area, and a structure that is highly transparent to charged particles. The test program has demonstrated that the system meets or surpasses all of its performance specifications as well as environmental requirements. It is now installed in the completed LAT, which is being prepared for launch in early 2008.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 902485
• Report Number(s): SLAC-PUB-12406
• Journal Information: Astroparticle Physics, Journal Name: Astroparticle Physics
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
Instrumentation
INST
PERFORMANCE
SILICON
SPECIFICATIONS
TELESCOPES
TUNGSTEN