A hard X-ray solar flare polarimeter design based on scintillating fibers

Authors

James M. Ryan, University of New HampshireFollow
Mark L. McConnell, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
D J. Forrest, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
John R. Macri, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow
M McClish, University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
W T. Vestrand, University of New Hampshire - Main CampusFollow

Abstract

We have developed a design for a Compton scatter polarimeter to measure the polarization of hard X-rays (50–300 keV) from solar flares. The modular design is based on an annular array of scintillating fibers coupled to a 5-inch position-sensitive PMT. Incident photons scatter from the fiber array into a small array of NaI detectors located at the center of the annulus. The location of the interactions in both the fiber array and in the NaI array can be used to measure the linear polarization of the incident flux. This compact design may be well-suited to a variety of astrophysical applications. An extensive series of Monte Carlo simulations has been performed to characterize this design.

Department

Space Science Center, Physics

Publication Date

1998

Journal Title

AIP Conference Proceedings

Publisher

AIP Publishing

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1063/1.56962

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Recommended Citation

A hard X-ray solar flare polarimeter design based on scintillating fibers Ryan, J. M. and McConnell, M. L. and Forrest, D. J. and Macri, J. and McClish, M. and Vestrand, W. T., AIP Conference Proceedings, 450, 586-591 (1998), DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.56962

Rights

© 1998 American Institute of Physics