Activation in the COMPTEL double-scattering gamma-ray telescope

Authors

D Morris, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
Mark L. McConnell, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
James M. Ryan, University of New HampshireFollow
R Diehl, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestriche PhysikFollow
U Oberlack, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische PhysikFollow
V Schonfelder, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische PhysikFollow
M Varendorff, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische PhysikFollow
G Weidenspointer, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische PhysikFollow
H deBoer, SRON
K Bennett, ESTEC

Abstract

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.

Department

Space Science Center, Physics

Publication Date

7-1997

Journal Title

High Conference on the Energy Radiation Background in Space, 1997.

Publisher

IEEE

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1109/CHERBS.1997.660241

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Recommended Citation

Morris, D.J.; McConnell, M.L.; Ryan, J.M.; Diehl, R.; Oberlack, U.G.; Schonfelder, V.; Varendorff, M.; Weidenspointner, G.; De Boer, H.; Bennett, K., "Activation in the COMPTEL double-scattering gamma-ray telescope," High Energy Radiation Background in Space, 1997 Conference on the , vol., no., pp.26,29, 22-23 Jul 1997 doi: 10.1109/CHERBS.1997.660241

Rights

c 1998 IEEE