Abstract
The Polarized Gamma-ray Observer - Lightweight Version (PoGOLite) is a new balloon experiment capable of detecting 10% polarization from a 200 mCrab source in the 25-80 keV energy range in a single 6-hour flight for the first time. Polarization measurements of hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays are expected to provide a powerful probe into high-energy emission mechanisms as well as source geometries. PoGOLite uses Compton scattering and photo-absorption to measure polarization in an array of 217 well-type phoswich detector cells made of plastic and BGO scintillators. The adoption of a well-type phoswich counter concept and a thick polyethylene neutron shield provides a narrow field-of-view (1.25 msr), a large effective area (≥ 250 cm2 at 40-50 keV), a high modulation factor (more than 25 %) and the low background (∼100 mCrab) required to conduct high-sensitivity polarization measurements. Through tests in laboratories and accelerator facilities of a scaled-down prototype with the front-end electronics of flight design and an extensive study by Monte-Carlo simulation, we have demonstrated high instrument performance. PoGOLite will be ready for a first engineering flight in 2009 and a science flight in 2010, during which polarization signals from the Crab Nebula/pulsar, Cygnus X-1 and other objects will be observed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record |
| Pages | 2538-2544 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Volume | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 2007 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS-MIC - Honolulu, HI Duration: 2007 Oct 27 → 2007 Nov 3 |
Other
| Other | 2007 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS-MIC |
|---|---|
| City | Honolulu, HI |
| Period | 07/10/27 → 07/11/3 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Cite this
High sensitivity balloon-borne hard X-ray/soft Gamma-ray polarimeter PoGOLite. / Mizuno, T.; Arimoto, M.; Axelsson, M.; Björnsson, C. I.; Bogaert, G.; Carlson, P.; Craig, W.; Fukazawa, Y.; Gunji, S.; Hjalmarsdotter, L.; Kamae, T.; Kanai, Y.; Kataoka, Jun; Katsuta, J.; Kawai, N.; Kiss, M.; Klamra, W.; Larsson, S.; Madejski, G.; Bettolo, C. Marini; Ng, J.; Pearce, M.; Ryde, F.; Tajima, H.; Takahash, H.; Takahashi, T.; Tanaka, T.; Thurston, T.; Ueno, M.; Varner, G.; Yoshida, H.
IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. Vol. 4 2007. p. 2538-2544 4436669.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - High sensitivity balloon-borne hard X-ray/soft Gamma-ray polarimeter PoGOLite
AU - Mizuno, T.
AU - Arimoto, M.
AU - Axelsson, M.
AU - Björnsson, C. I.
AU - Bogaert, G.
AU - Carlson, P.
AU - Craig, W.
AU - Fukazawa, Y.
AU - Gunji, S.
AU - Hjalmarsdotter, L.
AU - Kamae, T.
AU - Kanai, Y.
AU - Kataoka, Jun
AU - Katsuta, J.
AU - Kawai, N.
AU - Kiss, M.
AU - Klamra, W.
AU - Larsson, S.
AU - Madejski, G.
AU - Bettolo, C. Marini
AU - Ng, J.
AU - Pearce, M.
AU - Ryde, F.
AU - Tajima, H.
AU - Takahash, H.
AU - Takahashi, T.
AU - Tanaka, T.
AU - Thurston, T.
AU - Ueno, M.
AU - Varner, G.
AU - Yoshida, H.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - The Polarized Gamma-ray Observer - Lightweight Version (PoGOLite) is a new balloon experiment capable of detecting 10% polarization from a 200 mCrab source in the 25-80 keV energy range in a single 6-hour flight for the first time. Polarization measurements of hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays are expected to provide a powerful probe into high-energy emission mechanisms as well as source geometries. PoGOLite uses Compton scattering and photo-absorption to measure polarization in an array of 217 well-type phoswich detector cells made of plastic and BGO scintillators. The adoption of a well-type phoswich counter concept and a thick polyethylene neutron shield provides a narrow field-of-view (1.25 msr), a large effective area (≥ 250 cm2 at 40-50 keV), a high modulation factor (more than 25 %) and the low background (∼100 mCrab) required to conduct high-sensitivity polarization measurements. Through tests in laboratories and accelerator facilities of a scaled-down prototype with the front-end electronics of flight design and an extensive study by Monte-Carlo simulation, we have demonstrated high instrument performance. PoGOLite will be ready for a first engineering flight in 2009 and a science flight in 2010, during which polarization signals from the Crab Nebula/pulsar, Cygnus X-1 and other objects will be observed.
AB - The Polarized Gamma-ray Observer - Lightweight Version (PoGOLite) is a new balloon experiment capable of detecting 10% polarization from a 200 mCrab source in the 25-80 keV energy range in a single 6-hour flight for the first time. Polarization measurements of hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays are expected to provide a powerful probe into high-energy emission mechanisms as well as source geometries. PoGOLite uses Compton scattering and photo-absorption to measure polarization in an array of 217 well-type phoswich detector cells made of plastic and BGO scintillators. The adoption of a well-type phoswich counter concept and a thick polyethylene neutron shield provides a narrow field-of-view (1.25 msr), a large effective area (≥ 250 cm2 at 40-50 keV), a high modulation factor (more than 25 %) and the low background (∼100 mCrab) required to conduct high-sensitivity polarization measurements. Through tests in laboratories and accelerator facilities of a scaled-down prototype with the front-end electronics of flight design and an extensive study by Monte-Carlo simulation, we have demonstrated high instrument performance. PoGOLite will be ready for a first engineering flight in 2009 and a science flight in 2010, during which polarization signals from the Crab Nebula/pulsar, Cygnus X-1 and other objects will be observed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48149109282&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=48149109282&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/NSSMIC.2007.4436669
DO - 10.1109/NSSMIC.2007.4436669
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 1424409233
SN - 9781424409235
VL - 4
SP - 2538
EP - 2544
BT - IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record
ER -