0000000000776773

AUTHOR

E. Porras

Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI)

The Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI) will be one of the three instruments carried by the first MINISAT mission. LEGRI aims to demonstrate the technological feasibility of a new generation of low energy gamma-ray telescopes with imaging, medium resolution spectroscopy and high continuum sensitivity in the 20-200 keV spectral region, based on HgI2 solid state detector technology.

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Comparison between Theoretical Predictions and Legri Background Noise Experimental Measurements

Trapped protons are responsible for the main component of LEGRI background. Detailed theoretical model has demonstrated that the proton-induced counting rate is two orders of magnitude larger than the counting rate of the diffuse gamma-ray flux. The continuous passes of LEGRI through the SAA (7 times everyday) makes very difficult the background modelling. Long and short lived isotopes contribute in very different time scales to the proton-induced background component. The goal of this paper is to present a comparison between the long-lived background noise theoretical predictions and the experimental data. The results show an unexpected good agreement between the predicted and the observed…

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Legri Operations. Detectors and Detector Stability

Two years after launch (04.21.97), LEGRI is operating on Minisat-01 in a LEO orbit. The LEGRI detector plane is formed by two type of gamma-ray solid state detectors: HgI2 and CdZnTe. Detectors are embedded in a box containing the FEE and DFE electronics. This box provides an effective detector passive shielding. Detector plane is multiplexed by a Coded Aperture System located at 54 cm and a Ta Collimator with a FCFOV of 22° and 2° angular resolution. The aim of this paper is to summarize the detector behaviour in three different time scales: before launch, during the in-orbit check-out period (IOC), and after two years of routine operation in space. Main results can be summarized as follow…

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Background in low Earth orbits measured by LEGRI telescope – short and long term variability

Abstract In this paper we present the first Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI) background measurements which were carried out in the earlier nominal operation activities of LEGRI Instrument on board MINISAT-01, after initial spacecraft and instrument check-up procedures. Short term (daily) and expected long term background variability is presented. A background model is also discussed in order to be used for celestial γ-ray emitters observations.

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