Engineering topics

Vallerga, J. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Vallerga, J. V..

23 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1983

A mercuric iodide detector system for X-ray astronomy. I - Design considerations and predictions of background and sensitivity

Since the discovery of Sco X-1 initiated X-ray astronomy in 1962, this science has progressed in connection with the placement of X-ray photon detectors above the atmosphere by means of rockets, balloons, and satellites. In the last few years, studies have been conducted regarding the use of mercuric iodide (HgI2) as room temperature X-ray detector for applications in hard X-ray astronomy. These detectors combine a high quantum efficiency with good energy resolution. The sensitivity of an astronomical X-ray telescope is discussed, and a description is presented of a specific design accepted for the HDXT to be flown on Spacelab. Attention is given to predictions of the background counting rate of the detector assembly in this design, taking into account the results of a Monte Carlo simulation of the detector assembly in the radiation environment at balloon altitudes (40 km).

Ricker, G. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A mercuric iodide detector system for X-ray astronomy. II - Results from flight tests of a balloon borne instrument

To establish the expected sensitivity of a new hard X-ray telescope design, described by Ricker et al., an experiment was conducted to measure the background counting rate at balloon altitudes (40 km) of mercuric iodide, a room temperature solid state X-ray detector. The prototype detector consisted of two thin mercuric iodide (HgI2) detectors surrounded by a large bismuth germanate scintillator operated in anticoincidence. The bismuth germanate shield vetoed most of the background counting rate induced by atmospheric gamma-rays, neutrons and cosmic rays. A balloon-borne gondola containing a prototype detector assembly was designed, constructed and flown twice in the spring of 1982 from Palestine, TX. The second flight of this instrument established a differential background counting rate of 4.2 + or - 0.7 x 10 to the -5th counts/s sq cm keV over the energy range of 40-80 keV. This measurement was within 50 percent of the predicted value. The measured rate is about 5 times lower than previously achieved in shielded NaI/CsI or Ge systems operating in the same energy range.

Vallerga, J. V.↗

NASA NTRS1982

New measurement of the Fano factor of mercuric iodide

It is pointed out that mercuric iodide (HgI2) shows great promise as a high-resolution X-ray detector for use in X-ray astronomy. Development of mercuric iodide for astronomical work has required investigation of the temperature dependence of the HgI2 crystal parameters such as leakage current, resolution, and mobility of the charge carriers. The first studies in connection with these investigations have led to a new value of the Fano factor of 0.19 + or - 0.03. The best value previously reported was 0.27 measured at room temperature. The new upper limit of 0.19 for the HgI2 Fano factor was determined by cooling the HgI2 crystal and preamp to -20 C. It is concluded that room-temperature energy resolution of HgI2 is not limited by charge generation statistics but rather by collection efficiency.

Ricker, G. R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

X-ray observations of the 1980 Cygnus X-1 'high state'

Observations of intensity transitions in the X-ray emission from the black-hole candidate Cygnus X-1 were made by the Hakucho satellite during the summer of 1980 and are reported here. In addition, the results of hard (20-120 keV) X-ray observations of Cyg X-1 are reported. These data were obtained during the 'high' intensity state by balloon-borne mercuric iodide detectors, and are compared with data obtained at similar energies approximately 1 month earlier (A. Sheepmaker et al., in preparation) during the 'low' intensity state.

Ogawara, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1982

A bismuth germanate-shielded mercuric iodide X-ray detector for space applications

The development of HgI2 for solid state X-ray detector applications over the past decade was carried out in connection with the ability of the crystal to operate as a detector at room temperature. In order to achieve the lowest background possible for HgI2 detectors in a space-like environment (balloon and/or satellite altitudes), attention was given to the design of a shielding system which actively vetoes nonaperture events such as gamma rays and charged particles that can mimic signal X-rays by partial deposition of energy in the main detector. The detector system consists of two HgI2 detectors mounted back to back and operated in anticoincidence. The two detectors are placed inside a bismuth germanate scintillating shield along with two hybrid charge-sensitive preamps. Monte Carlo simulations of detector performance are discussed.

Vallerga, J. V.↗