Basic Performance of a Polarimeter for Gamma-Ray Bursts Using Segmented Scintillators

Author

Gunji, S. ; Toukairin, N. ; Tanaka, Y. ; Tokanai, F. ; Sakurai, H. ; Kishimoto, Y. ; Mihara, T. ; Hayashida, K. ; Anabuki, N. ; Tsunemi, H. ; Narita, T. ; Saito, Y. ; Kishimoto, S.

Author_Institution

Yamagata Univ., Yamagata, Japan

Volume

58

Issue

2

fYear

2011

fDate

4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

426

Lastpage

433

Abstract

We have been developing a Compton-scattering-type hard-X-ray polarimeter sensitive over the energy range from ~ 60 keV to ~ 300 keV for Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) studies. The polarimeter consists of four identical modules each with a field of view of ±45°. To estimate the instrument performance accurately, we have investigated the instrument´s response for gamma rays incident off-axis. We report here results of computer simulations coupled with basic experiments using polarized X-ray beams. As a result of this work we estimate that our polarimeter can detect the polarization for ~ 100 GRBs in 5 years at 99% confidence level if the degree of polarization is higher than 40%.

Keywords

Compton effect; X-ray apparatus; cosmic ray apparatus; gamma-ray bursts; polarimeters; Compton-scattering-type hard-X-ray polarimeter; computer simulations; electron volt energy 60 keV to 300 keV; energy range; gamma-ray bursts; polarized X-ray beams; segmented scintillators; Gamma ray bursts; Instruments; Modulation; Photonics; Plastics; Prototypes; Scattering; Gamma ray burst; polarization;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2010.2102772

Filename

5723030