The estimation of background production by cosmic rays in high-energy gamma ray telescopes

Author

Edwards, H.L. ; Nolan, P.L. ; Hughes, E.B. ; Lin, Y.C. ; Koch, D.G. ; Bertsch, D.L. ; Fichtel, C.E. ; Hartman, R.C. ; Hunter, S.D. ; Kniffen, D.A. ; Thompson, D.J. ; Kanhack, G. ; Sommer, M. ; Schneid, E. ; Hughlock, B.W.

Author_Institution

Standford Univ., CA, USA

Volume

38

Issue

2

fYear

1991

fDate

4/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

553

Lastpage

558

Abstract

A calculation 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 a very large collecting area. The background produced in proton-beam tests of EGRET is much less than the predicted level. This discrepancy appears to be due to the FLUKA87 inability to transport evaporation nucleons. It is predicted that the background in EGRET will be no more than 4-10 % of the extragalactic diffuse gamma radiation

Keywords

Monte Carlo methods; astronomical telescopes; gamma-ray astronomy; EGRET telescope designs; FLUKA87; GRITS telescope; SAS-2; Space Shuttle; astronomy; background production; calculation method; cosmic rays; evaporation nucleons; external fuel tank; extragalactic diffuse gamma radiation; hadronic Monte Carlo code; high-energy gamma ray telescopes; instrumental background; proton-beam tests; Cosmic rays; Fuel storage; Gamma rays; Instruments; Monte Carlo methods; Optical design; Production; Space shuttles; Telescopes; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.289356

Filename

289356