An advanced design for the Gamma-RAy Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

Karla Oñate Melecio; Christopher Bancroft; Camden Ertley; Fabian Kislat; Jason Legere; Steve Longworth; Mark L. McConnell; Kevin Mello; Dominic Puopolo; Jimmy Zaid; James Ryan

doi:10.1117/12.2632817

4 October 2022 An advanced design for the Gamma-RAy Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

Karla Oñate Melecio, Christopher Bancroft, Camden Ertley, Fabian Kislat, Jason Legere, Steve Longworth, Mark L. McConnell, Kevin Mello, Dominic Puopolo, Jimmy Zaid, James Ryan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 12241, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXIV; 122410G (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632817
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2022, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Understanding the underlying physics governing astrophysical jets associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) is necessary to advance the field of gamma-ray astronomy. Existing physics models can be constrained through GRB polarization studies. The Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE) is a high-altitude balloon experiment designed to measure GRB polarization over the energy range of 50-500 keV at flight altitudes. A flight of the newest GRAPE design is scheduled to fly from Fort Sumner, NM in August 2023. The new design is based on an arrangement of small scintillation detector elements designed to measure photon interactions in three dimensions and provide modest imaging capabilities. The flight instrument consists of a 3-dimensional (7x7x5) array of high-Z (GAGG) and low-Z (P-terphenyl) scintillators each read out by individual Hamamtsu MultiPixel Photon Counters (MPPCs). Previous GRAPE missions have been sensitive to M-class solar flares and observations of the Crab Nebula with low signal to background ratios. The new design improves performance relative to the previous GRAPE design through the use of advanced scintillator materials, the ability to perform modest Compton imaging for source localization and background rejection, and by completely eliminating optical cross-talk. Background reduction is achieved using the imaging capabilities allowing for some level of event rejection for events inconsistent with the source direction. This paper will present the new module design and simulated response parameters to provide an estimate of the balloon payload sensitivity.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Karla Oñate Melecio, Christopher Bancroft, Camden Ertley, Fabian Kislat, Jason Legere, Steve Longworth, Mark L. McConnell, Kevin Mello, Dominic Puopolo, Jimmy Zaid, and James Ryan "An advanced design for the Gamma-RAy Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)", Proc. SPIE 12241, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXIV, 122410G (4 October 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2632817

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