The prompt cosmic-ray-induced background in the orbiting Compton telescope COMPTEL

Author

Ryan, J.M. ; Kappadath, S. ; McConnell, M. ; Morris, D. ; Schonfelder, V. ; Varendorff, M. ; Weidenspointner, G. ; Hermsen, W. ; Bennett, K.

Author_Institution

New Hampshire Univ., Durham, NH, USA

fYear

1997

fDate

22-23 Jul 1997

Firstpage

13

Lastpage

16

Abstract

The authors report the spectrum of background events that the COMPTEL instrument on Compton Gamma Ray Observatory experiences due to the instantaneous effects of cosmic rays. Other backgrounds are present in the data of this Compton telescope, but the components that closely follow the instantaneous flux of cosmic rays are the most identifiable. The background varies approximately linearly with the cosmic-ray intensity and exhibits a broad feature from about 1 to 10 MeV suggestive of the nuclear nature of the events. Above 10 MeV there is a marked change in the nature of the background that is not understood. It appears that the background changes from nuclear to electromagnetic in nature

Keywords

astronomical instruments; astronomical telescopes; cosmic ray interactions; gamma-ray apparatus; gamma-ray astronomy; gamma-ray detection; semiconductor counters; 1 to 30 MeV; CGRO; COMPTEL; COMPTEL instrument; Compton Gamma Ray Observatory; Compton telescope; astronomical telescope; background event; cosmic rays; detector noise; gamma ray instrument; gamma ray telescope detector; orbiting Compton telescope COMPTEL; prompt cosmic-ray-induced background; satellite instrument; Cosmic rays; Earth; Event detection; Extraterrestrial measurements; Gamma ray detection; Gamma ray detectors; Instruments; Observatories; Solid scintillation detectors; Telescopes;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

High Energy Radiation Background in Space, 1997 Conference on the

Conference_Location

Snowmass, CO

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4335-2

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CHERBS.1997.660222

Filename

660222