25,712 research outputs found
Gallium arsenide quantum well-based far infrared array radiometric imager
We have built an array-based camera (FIRARI) for thermal imaging (lambda = 8 to 12 microns). FIRARI uses a square format 128 by 128 element array of aluminum gallium arsenide quantum well detectors that are indium bump bonded to a high capacity silicon multiplexer. The quantum well detectors offer good responsivity along with high response and noise uniformity, resulting in excellent thermal images without compensation for variation in pixel response. A noise equivalent temperature difference of 0.02 K at a scene temperature of 290 K was achieved with the array operating at 60 K. FIRARI demonstrated that AlGaAS quantum well detector technology can provide large format arrays with performance superior to mercury cadmium telluride at far less cost
On design studies for the future 50 GeV arrays of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes
Arrays of imaging air Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) like VERITAS, HESS have
been recently proposed as the instruments of the next generation for ground
based very high energy gamma-ray astronomy invading into 50-100 GeV energy
range. Here we present results of design studies for the future IACT arrays
which have been performed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We studied
different trigger strategies, abilities of cosmic ray rejection for arrays of 4
and 16 telescopes with 10 m reflectors, equipped with cameras comprising 271
and 721 pixels of 0.25 and 0.15 degree, respectively. The comparative analysis
of the performance of such telescope arrays has been done for both camera
options, providing almost the same field of view of 4.3 degree. An important
issue is the choice of the optimum spacing between the telescopes in such an
array. In order to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio in observations at the
small zenith angles of 20 degree as well as at large zenith angles of 60
degree, different arrangements of IACT array have been examined. Finally, we
present a major recommendations regarding the optimum configuration.Comment: 5 pages, presented at the VERITAS Workshop on TeV Astrophysics of
Extragalactic Sources, eds. M. Catanese, J. Quinn, and T. Weekes, to be
published in Astroparticle Physic
CASTER - a concept for a Black Hole Finder Probe based on the use of new scintillator technologies
The primary scientific mission of the Black Hole Finder Probe (BHFP), part of
the NASA Beyond Einstein program, is to survey the local Universe for black
holes over a wide range of mass and accretion rate. One approach to such a
survey is a hard X-ray coded-aperture imaging mission operating in the 10--600
keV energy band, a spectral range that is considered to be especially useful in
the detection of black hole sources. The development of new inorganic
scintillator materials provides improved performance (for example, with regards
to energy resolution and timing) that is well suited to the BHFP science
requirements. Detection planes formed with these materials coupled with a new
generation of readout devices represent a major advancement in the performance
capabilities of scintillator-based gamma cameras. Here, we discuss the Coded
Aperture Survey Telescope for Energetic Radiation (CASTER), a concept that
represents a BHFP based on the use of the latest scintillator technology.Comment: 12 pages; conference paper presented at the SPIE conference "UV,
X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XIV." To be
published in SPIE Conference Proceedings, vol. 589
VERITAS: the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System
The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS)
represents an important step forward in the study of extreme astrophysical
processes in the universe. It combines the power of the atmospheric Cherenkov
imaging technique using a large optical reflector with the power of
stereoscopic observatories using arrays of separated telescopes looking at the
same shower. The seven identical telescopes in VERITAS, each of aperture 10 m,
will be deployed in a filled hexagonal pattern of side 80 m; each telescope
will have a camera consisting of 499 pixels with a field of view of 3.5 deg
VERITAS will substantially increase the catalog of very high energy (E >
100GeV) gamma-ray sources and greatly improve measurements of established
sources.Comment: 44 pages, 16 figure
CASTER: a scintillator-based black hole finder probe
The primary scientific mission of the Black Hole Finder Probe (BHFP), part of the NASA Beyond Einstein program, is to survey the local Universe for black holes over a wide range of mass and accretion rate. One approach to such a survey is a hard X-ray coded-aperture imaging mission operating in the 10-600 keV energy band, a spectral range that is considered to be especially useful in the detection of black hole sources. The development of new inorganic scintillator materials provides improved performance (for example, with regards to energy resolution and timing) that is well suited to the BHFP science requirements. Detection planes formed with these materials coupled with a new generation of readout devices represent a major advancement in the performance capabilities of scintillator-based gamma cameras. Here, we discuss the Coded Aperture Survey Telescope for Energetic Radiation (CASTER), a concept that represents a BHFP based on the use of the latest scintillator technology
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