Prototype TIGRE compton gamma-ray balloon-borne telescope

Bhattacharya D., O'Neill T., Akyuz A., Samimi J., Zych A.

NEW ASTRONOMY REVIEWS, vol.48, pp.287-292, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 48
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.newar.2003.11.033
  • Journal Name: NEW ASTRONOMY REVIEWS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.287-292
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: No

Abstract

A prototype balloon-borne telescope is being constructed for gamma-ray observations in the MeV energy range. The Tracking and Imaging Gamma-Ray Experiment (TIGRE) uses multi-layers of thin silicon detectors to track and measure the energy losses of Compton recoil electrons. When combined with the direction and energy of the Compton scattered gamma-ray a unique incident direction for each photon event is determined. This facilitates background rejection, improved sensitivity and image reconstruction. The converter/tracker also serves as an electron-positron pair detector for gamma-rays up to 100 MeV. The initial continental US flight will be used to determine the sub-orbital atmospheric backgrounds and search for polarized gamma-emission for the Crab pulsar. Longer southern hemisphere flights with an enhanced instrument will map out the Al-26 emissions from the galactic center region. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.