Calibration of the Compton Spectrometer and Imager in preparation for the 2014 balloon campaign

C. A. Kierans; S. E. Boggs; A. Lowell; J. Tomsick; A. Zoglauer; M. Amman; J.-L. Chiu; H.-K. Chang; C.-H. Lin; P. Jean; P. von Ballmoos; C.-Y. Yang; J.-R. Shang; C.-H. Tseng; Y. Chou; Y.-H. Chang

doi:10.1117/12.2055250

24 July 2014 Calibration of the Compton Spectrometer and Imager in preparation for the 2014 balloon campaign

C. A. Kierans, S. E. Boggs, A. Lowell, J. Tomsick, A. Zoglauer, M. Amman, J.-L. Chiu, H.-K. Chang, C.-H. Lin, P. Jean, P. von Ballmoos, C.-Y. Yang, J.-R. Shang, C.-H. Tseng, Y. Chou, Y.-H. Chang

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9144, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 91443M (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055250
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2014, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Abstract

The Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) is a balloon-borne soft gamma-ray (0.2-5 MeV) telescope designed to perform wide-field imaging, high-resolution spectroscopy, and novel polarization measurements of astrophysical sources. COSI employs a compact Compton telescope design, utilizing 12 cross-strip germanium detectors to track the path of incident photons, where position and energy deposits from Compton interactions allow for a reconstruction of the source position in the sky, an inherent measure of the linear polarization, and significant background reduction. The instrument has recently been rebuilt with an updated and optimized design; the polarization sensitivity and effective area have increased due to a change in detector configuration, and the new lightweight gondola is suited to fly on ultra-long duration flights with the addition of a mechanical cryocooler system. COSI is planning to launch from the Long Duration Balloon site at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in December 2014, where our primary science goal will be to measure gamma-ray burst (GRB) polarization. In preparation for the 2014 campaign, we have performed preliminary calibrations of the energy and 3-D position of interactions within the detector, and simulations of the angular resolution and detector efficiency of the integrated instrument. In this paper we will present the science goals for the 2014 COSI campaign and the techniques and results of the preliminary calibrations.

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C. A. Kierans, S. E. Boggs, A. Lowell, J. Tomsick, A. Zoglauer, M. Amman, J.-L. Chiu, H.-K. Chang, C.-H. Lin, P. Jean, P. von Ballmoos, C.-Y. Yang, J.-R. Shang, C.-H. Tseng, Y. Chou, and Y.-H. Chang "Calibration of the Compton Spectrometer and Imager in preparation for the 2014 balloon campaign", Proc. SPIE 9144, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 91443M (24 July 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055250

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