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Articles 1 - 18 of 18
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Prototype For Sontrac: A Scintillating Plastic Fiber Detector For Solar Neutron Spectroscopy, James M. Ryan, Janis Baltgalvis, D Holslin, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, Cornelia B. Wunderer, Aaron R. Polichar
Prototype For Sontrac: A Scintillating Plastic Fiber Detector For Solar Neutron Spectroscopy, James M. Ryan, Janis Baltgalvis, D Holslin, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, Cornelia B. Wunderer, Aaron R. Polichar
Space Science Center
We report the scientific motivation for and performance measurements of a prototype detector system for SONTRAC, a solar neutron tracking experiment designed to study high- energy solar flare processes. The full SONTRAC instrument will measure the energy and direction of 20 to 200 MeV neutrons by imaging the ionization tracks of the recoil protons in a densely packed bundle of scintillating plastic fibers. The prototype detector consists of a 12.7 mm square bundle of 250 micrometer scintillating plastic fibers, 10 cm long. A photomultiplier detects scintillation light from one end of the fiber bundle and provides a detection trigger to …
A Prototype For Sontrac, A Scintillating Plastic Fiber Tracking Detector For Neutron Imaging And Spectroscopy, James M. Ryan, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, C B. Wunderer, D Holslin, Aaron R. Polichar, Janis Baltgalvis
A Prototype For Sontrac, A Scintillating Plastic Fiber Tracking Detector For Neutron Imaging And Spectroscopy, James M. Ryan, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, C B. Wunderer, D Holslin, Aaron R. Polichar, Janis Baltgalvis
Space Science Center
We report on tests of a prototype detector system designed to perform imaging and spectroscopy on 20 to 250 MeV neutrons. Although developed for the study of high-energy solar flare processes, the detection techniques employed for SONTRAC, the SOlar Neutron TRACking experiment, can be applied to measurements in a variety of disciplines including atmospheric physics, radiation therapy and nuclear materials monitoring. The SONTRAC instrument measures the energy and direction ofneutrons by detecting double neutron-proton scatters and recording images of the ionization tracks of the recoil protons in a densely packed bundle of scintillating plastic fibers stacked in orthogonal layers. By …
Sontrac-A Low Background, Large Area Solar Neutron Spectrometer, C B. Wunderer, D Holslin, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Sontrac-A Low Background, Large Area Solar Neutron Spectrometer, C B. Wunderer, D Holslin, John R. Macri, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Space Science Center
SONTRAC will measure 20-250 MeV neutrons from solar flares using scintillator fibers viewed by CCD cameras to track neutron-proton scatters. SONTRAC can also be used to track gamma rays above 20 MeV. Veto shields are used to reject all charged particles. Gamma-ray and neutron events have very different track densities, allowing discrimination between the two. Double neutron-proton scatters allow unambiguous determination of the incident neutron energy and direction. Therefore, SONTRAC is capable of rejecting almost all background except neutrons from the solar direction. SONTRAC would have detected the June 15, 1991 flare with 42σ for 20-100 MeV neutrons, having an …
Activation In The Comptel Double-Scattering Gamma-Ray Telescope, D Morris, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Diehl, U Oberlack, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, H Deboer, K Bennett
Activation In The Comptel Double-Scattering Gamma-Ray Telescope, D Morris, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Diehl, U Oberlack, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, H Deboer, K Bennett
Space Science Center
Abstract-The COMPTEL gamma-ray telescope has been operating in low Earth orbit for six years, since the launch of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory in April 1991. Comparisons of data for different orbits and epochs show evidence of activation on time scales from minutes (27Mg, q,2=9.5 min) to years C2Na, q&.58 yr). The activation is correlated with both the orbital altitude and solar cosmic-ray modulation. Because it requires coincident measurements in two different detectors, COMPTEL is most susceptible to instrumental background events in which two or more photons are produced simultaneously.
Cdznte Strip Detectors As Sub-Millimeter Resolution Imaging Gamma Radiation Spectrometers, K Larson, V Boykin, M L. Cherry, J F. Courville, F P. Doty, A Drake, T G. Guzik, L A. Hamel, John R. Macri, M Mayer, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, O Tousignant
Cdznte Strip Detectors As Sub-Millimeter Resolution Imaging Gamma Radiation Spectrometers, K Larson, V Boykin, M L. Cherry, J F. Courville, F P. Doty, A Drake, T G. Guzik, L A. Hamel, John R. Macri, M Mayer, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, O Tousignant
Space Science Center
We report γ-ray detection performance measurements and computer simulations of a sub-millimeter pitch CdZnTe strip detector. The detector is a prototype for γ-ray measurements in the range of 20-600 keV. The prototype is a 1.5 mm thick, 64×64 orthogonal stripe CdZnTe detector of 0.375 mm pitch in both dimensions, with approximately one square inch of sensitive area. Using discrete laboratory electronics to process signals from an 8×8 stripe region of the prototype we measured good spectroscopic uniformity and sub-pitch (~0.2 mm) spatial resolution in both x and y dimensions. We present below measurements of the spatial uniformity, relative timing and …
Progress In The Study Of Cdznte Strip Detectors, O Tousignant, L A. Hamel, J F. Courville, P Paki, John R. Macri, K Larson, M Mayer, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Progress In The Study Of Cdznte Strip Detectors, O Tousignant, L A. Hamel, J F. Courville, P Paki, John R. Macri, K Larson, M Mayer, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Space Science Center
We report new performance measurements and computer simulations of a sub-millimeter pitch CdZnTe strip detector under study as a prototype imaging spectrometer for astronomical x-ray and gamma-ray observations. The prototype is 1.5 mm thick with 375 micron strip pitch in both the x and y dimensions. Previously reported work included demonstrations of half-pitch spatial resolution (approximately 190 microns) and good energy resolution and spectral uniformity. Strip detector efficiency measurements have also been presented. A model that includes the photon interaction, carrier transport and the electronics was developed that qualitatively reproduced the measurements. The new studies include measurements of the CdZnTe …
Galactic Black Hole Binaries: High-Energy Radiation, J E. Grove, J E. Grindlay, B A. Harmon, X M. Hua, D Kazanas, Mark L. Mcconnell
Galactic Black Hole Binaries: High-Energy Radiation, J E. Grove, J E. Grindlay, B A. Harmon, X M. Hua, D Kazanas, Mark L. Mcconnell
Space Science Center
Observations of galactic black hole candidates made by the instruments aboard the Compton GRO in the hard X-ray and γ-ray bands have significantly enhanced our knowledge of the phenomenology of the emission from these objects. Understanding these observations presents a formidable challenge to theoretical models of the accretion flow onto the compact object and of the physical mechanisms that generate high-energy radiation. Here we summarize the current state of observations and theoretical interpretation of the emission from black holecandidates above 20 keV. The all-sky monitoring capability of BATSE allows, for the first time, nearly continuous studies of the high-energy emission …
5 Years Of Crab Pulsar Observations With Comptel, R Much, K Bennett, C Winkler, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, M Varendorff, W Hermsen, L Kuiper, R Van Der Meulen, A Connors, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Buccheri
5 Years Of Crab Pulsar Observations With Comptel, R Much, K Bennett, C Winkler, R Diehl, G G. Lichti, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, M Varendorff, W Hermsen, L Kuiper, R Van Der Meulen, A Connors, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, R Buccheri
Space Science Center
Using the COMPTEL data of the first 5 years of the CGRO mission we have derived the average pulsed spectrum of the Crab Pulsar, as well as phase-resolved spectra of the pulsed emission of the Crab Pulsar. The spectra in the COMPTEL energy range (0.75 to 30 MeV) are compared to those in the neighboring energy bands. The pulsed flux has been examined for its stability. Pulsed lightcurves have been derived for different energy intervals. Preliminary results of this analysis are presented.
Evidence For Γ-Ray Flares In 3c 279 And Pks 1622-297 At ∼10 Mev, W Collmar, V Schonfelder, H Bloemen, J J. Blom, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, J G. Stacy, K Bennett, O R. Williams
Evidence For Γ-Ray Flares In 3c 279 And Pks 1622-297 At ∼10 Mev, W Collmar, V Schonfelder, H Bloemen, J J. Blom, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, J G. Stacy, K Bennett, O R. Williams
Space Science Center
The EGRET experiment aboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) has observed at energies above 100 MeV strong gamma-ray flares with short-term time variability from thegamma-ray blazars 3C 279 [1] and PKS 1622-297 [2]. During these flaring periods both blazarshave been detected by the COMPTEL experiment aboard CGRO at photon energies of ∼10 MeV, revealing simultaneous γ-ray activity down to these energies. For both cases the derived fluxes exceed those measured in previous observations, and 3C 279 shows an indication for time variability within the observational period. Both sources show evidence for ‘hard’ MeV spectra. In general the behaviour of both …
Improved Comptel 10–30 Mev Event Selections For Point Sources From Inflight Data, W Collmar, U Wessolowski, V Schonfelder, G Weidenspointer, S C. Kappadath, Mark L. Mcconnell, K Bennett
Improved Comptel 10–30 Mev Event Selections For Point Sources From Inflight Data, W Collmar, U Wessolowski, V Schonfelder, G Weidenspointer, S C. Kappadath, Mark L. Mcconnell, K Bennett
Space Science Center
After several years in orbit the COMPTEL experiment aboard the COMPTON Gamma-RayObservatory has collected a substantial amount of data from the MeV sky. We have used the inflight event data collected from the Crab, which is the brightest point source at MeV energies, to optimize our event selections for point sources. For the COMPTEL 10–30 MeV range we have derived a set of improved parameter selections, which leads to a reduction of background events and—at the same time—increases the number of source events, resulting in an obvious improvement in the signal-to-background ratio for point sources. Due to a revised cut …
The Prompt Cosmic-Ray-Induced Background In The Orbiting Compton Telescope Comptel, James M. Ryan, S C. Kappadath, Mark L. Mcconnell, D Morris, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, W Hermsen, K Bennett
The Prompt Cosmic-Ray-Induced Background In The Orbiting Compton Telescope Comptel, James M. Ryan, S C. Kappadath, Mark L. Mcconnell, D Morris, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, W Hermsen, K Bennett
Space Science Center
The authors report the spectrum of background events that the COMPTEL instrument on ComptonGamma Ray Observatory experiences due to the instantaneous effects of cosmic rays. Otherbackgrounds 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 thebackground that is not understood. It appears that the …
The Total Cosmic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Spectrum From 9 To 30 Mev Measured With Comptel, S C. Kappadath, James M. Ryan, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, C Winkler
The Total Cosmic Diffuse Gamma-Ray Spectrum From 9 To 30 Mev Measured With Comptel, S C. Kappadath, James M. Ryan, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, V Schonfelder, M Varendorff, G Weidenspointer, C Winkler
Space Science Center
A preliminary COMPTEL Cosmic Diffuse Gamma-Ray (CDG) spectrum from 800 keV to 30 MeV was presented earlier at the 3rd Compton Symposium. The COMPTEL results represent the first significant detection of the CDG radiation in the 9 to 30 MeV range. Using high-latitude data from the first 5 years of the mission we have performed a new detailed measurement of the 9 to 30 MeV spectrum with finer energy binning. The new improved results are in good agreement with our previous estimates and are compatible with power-law extrapolations from higher energies. The measured 9–30 MeV spectra from the Virgo and …
The Mev Spectrum Of Cygnus X-1 As Observed With Comptel, Mark L. Mcconnell, K Bennett, H Bloemen, W Collmar, W Hermsen, L Kuiper, R Much, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, R Vandijk
The Mev Spectrum Of Cygnus X-1 As Observed With Comptel, Mark L. Mcconnell, K Bennett, H Bloemen, W Collmar, W Hermsen, L Kuiper, R Much, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder, H Steinle, A W. Strong, R Vandijk
Space Science Center
The COMPTEL experiment on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) has observed the Cygnus region on several occasions since launch. These data represent the most sensitive observations to date of Cygnus X-1 in the 0.75–30 MeV range. The spectrum shows significant evidence for emission extending out to several MeV. These data alone suggest a need to modify the thermal Comptonization models or to incorporate some type of non-thermal emission mechanism. Here we report on the results of an analysis of selected COMPTEL data collected during the first three years of the CGRO mission. These data are then compared with contemporaneous data …
A Search For Gamma-Ray Flares From Black-Hole Candidates On Time Scales Of ∼1.5 Hours, R Vandijk, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder
A Search For Gamma-Ray Flares From Black-Hole Candidates On Time Scales Of ∼1.5 Hours, R Vandijk, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder
Space Science Center
Strong short-lived flares from black-hole candidates have been detected in the hard X-rayregime and possibly also at γ-ray energies. Here we present a search for short-lived flares in the 0.75–30 MeV COMPTEL data. No flares are found during the 5 viewing periods considered, with typical upper limits of a few times the Crab flux.
Comptel All-Sky Imaging At 2.2 Mev, Mark L. Mcconnell, S Fletcher, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder, A W. Strong, R Vandijk
Comptel All-Sky Imaging At 2.2 Mev, Mark L. Mcconnell, S Fletcher, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder, A W. Strong, R Vandijk
Space Science Center
It is now generally accepted that accretion of matter onto a compact object (white dwarf, neutron star or black hole) is one of the most efficient processes in the universe for producing high energy radiations. Measurements of the γ-ray emission will provide a potentially valuable means for furthering our understanding of the accretion process. Here we focus on neutroncapture processes, which can be expected in any situation where energetic neutrons may be produced and where the liberated neutrons will interact with matter before they decay (where they have a chance of undergoing some type of neutron capture). Line emission at …
Reassessment Of The 56co Emission From Sn 1991t, D Morris, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, G G. Lichti, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder
Reassessment Of The 56co Emission From Sn 1991t, D Morris, K Bennett, H Bloemen, R Diehl, W Hermsen, G G. Lichti, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan, V Schonfelder
Space Science Center
The detection of 56Co emission from SN 1991T has been previously reported at a level near the COMPTEL sensitivity threshold. The spectral analysis method, fitting the count spectrum to a background model plus a 56Co emission template, is subject to possible systematic effects which had not been thoroughly studied at that time. To better evaluate the significance of that ∼3.3σ detection, the same method has been applied to a grid of points with 5° spacing, out to 35° from the pointing direction, in each of 103 observing periods from phases 1 through 3. A dozen instances were found with a …
A Time Dependent Model For The Activation Of Comptel, M Varendorff, U Oberlack, G Weidenspointer, R Diehl, R Vandijk, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
A Time Dependent Model For The Activation Of Comptel, M Varendorff, U Oberlack, G Weidenspointer, R Diehl, R Vandijk, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Space Science Center
The structure of the CGRO satellite is irradiated by cosmic rays and trapped particles fromradiation belts. These incident particles produce radioactive nuclei in nuclear reactions with the satellite structure. Most of the radiation dose can be attributed to the passages through the South Atlantic Anomaly. The incident particle flux on the COMPTEL instrument is estimated from the event rate of a plastic scintillation detector. This event rate is modeled with a Neural Network simulation. The increase of the event rate during SAA passages is taken as a measure for the amount of induced radioactivity. A Neural Network Model is used …
Diffuse Galactic Continuum Emission: Recent Studies Using Comptel Data, A W. Strong, R Diehl, V Schonfelder, K Bennett, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Diffuse Galactic Continuum Emission: Recent Studies Using Comptel Data, A W. Strong, R Diehl, V Schonfelder, K Bennett, Mark L. Mcconnell, James M. Ryan
Space Science Center
COMPTEL full sky maximum entropy maps using 5 years of data have been produced using background estimates based on high-latitude observations. The Galactic diffuse emission can be studied using latitude and longitude profiles from these maps. Direct comparison of profiles with theoretical models is illustrated for the 10–30 MeV range. We demonstrate the presence of a broad latitude component, consistent with results from model-fitting studies. The method is also used to obtain model-independent broad-band spectra of the Galactic emission.