Efficiency and polarimetric calibration of the nuclear Compton telescope

Eric C. Bellm, Jeng Lun Chiu, Daniel Perez-Becker, Jau Shian Liang, Andreas Zoglauer, Mark S. Bandstra, Zong Kai Liu, Steven E. Boggs, Hsiang Kuang Chang, Yuan Hann Chang, Minghuey A. Huang, Mark Amman, Wei Che Hung, Pierre Jean, Chih Hsun Lin, Paul N. Luke, Ray Shine Run, Cornelia B. Wunderer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Nuclear Compton Telescope (NCT) is a balloon-borne gamma-ray telescope which uses cross-strip germanium detectors to study astrophysical sources of nuclear line emission. The compact design allows for wide-field imaging with excellent efficiency from 0.2-10 MeV. Moreover, the Compton imaging principle utilized by NCT provides polarimetric sensitivity above 200 keV. We conducted an extensive calibration campaign using radioactive sources prior to our flight from Ft. Sumner, New Mexico in Spring 2009. We present the results of our calibration of the effective area throughout NCT's field of view and compare them with Monte Carlo simulations using a detailed mass model. Additionally, we assess NCT's polarimetric capabilities with observations of a partially-polarized beam.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009
Pages444-448
Number of pages5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Event2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009 - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: 25 Oct 200931 Oct 2009

Publication series

NameIEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
ISSN (Print)1095-7863

Conference

Conference2009 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, NSS/MIC 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period25/10/0931/10/09

Keywords

  • Compton imaging
  • Gamma-ray astronomy detectors
  • Gamma-ray imaging
  • Germanium radiation detectors
  • Polarimetry

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