Engineering topics

Zych, Allen D.

Publications and source records attributed to Zych, Allen D..

5 records

NASA NTRS1993

Least-Squares Deconvolution of Compton Telescope Data with the Positivity Constraint

We describe a Direct Linear Algebraic Deconvolution (DLAD) approach to imaging of data from Compton gamma-ray telescopes. Imposition of the additional physical constraint, that all components of the model be non-negative, has been found to have a powerful effect in stabilizing the results, giving spatial resolution at or near the instrumental limit. A companion paper (Dixon et al. 1993) presents preliminary images of the Crab Nebula region using data from COMPTEL on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory.

COMPTEL↗

NASA NTRS1992

Compton telescope observations of gamma rays from SN 1987A

Results are reported of observations of a significant excess of gamma rays at energies of 1.0-2.5 MeV from the direction of SN 1987A, 418 days after detonation. Two features at 1.21 and 1.88 MeV are attributed to the 1.238 MeV and the combined 1.771, 2.015, and 2.035 MeV line emissions from the decay of Co-56 in the expanding ejecta with respective fluxes of (4.6 +/-1.4 +/-1.2) x 10 exp -4 and (3.5 +/-0.9 +/-0.9) x 10 exp -4 gamma/sq cm s, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. The obtained energy resolution of 11 percent did not permit a definite separation of the 1.771-MeV line from the two other lines at 2.015 and 2.035 MeV that form the group at 1.88 MeV. The line fluxes were obtained after correcting for the north-south effect and the continuum.

Ait-Ouamer, Farid↗

NASA NTRS1992

COMPTEL neutron response at 17 MeV

The Compton imaging telescope (COMPTEL) instrument of the Gamma Ray Observatory was exposed to 17 MeV d,t neutrons prior to launch. These data were analyzed and compared with Monte Carlo calculations using the MCNP(LANL) code. Energy and angular resolutions are compared and absolute efficiencies are calculated at 0 and 30 degrees incident angle. The COMPTEL neutron responses at 17 MeV and higher energies are needed to understand solar flare neutron data.

Oneill, Terrence J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Observation of nuclear reactors on satellites with a balloon-borne gamma-ray telescope

Four Soviet nuclear-powered satellites flying over a double Compton gamma-ray telescope resulted in the detection of gamma rays with 0.3-8.0 MeV energies on April 15, 1988, as the balloonborne telescope searched, from a 35-km altitude, for celestial gamma-ray sources. The satellites included Cosmos 1900 and 1932. The USSR is the only nation currently employing moderated nuclear reactors for satellite power; reactors in space may cause significant problems for gamma-ray astronomy by increasing backgrounds, especially in the case of gamma-ray bursts.

O'Neill, Terrence J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Atmospheric neutrons at 8.5-GV cutoff in the Southern Hemisphere

Measurements of the altitude, latitude, angle, and energy distributions of 5-80-MeV neutrons at 29 deg S geomagnetic latitude and 8.5-GV cutoff, obtained with the University of California neutron double-scatter telescope on a flight from Alice Springs, Australia, on November 10, 1981, are reported. The data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. The altitude distribution of upward-moving and downward moving neutrons is found to peak at 100 g/sq cm (as reported for 41 deg N geomagnetic latitude by Preszler et al., 1974), while the angular distributions exhibit dips at 60 and 130 deg and the energy distribution has a flat region at about 20 MeV. The escape current of 0.059 + or - 0.008 neutrons/sq cm sec is consistent with theoretical models for the injection of energetic protons into the earth radiation belt (Merker, 1972 and 1975).

Ait-Ouamer, Farid↗