Abstract
Gamma-ray background counting rates encountered in astronomy observations are calculated for a double Compton scatter telescope. Backgrounds not eliminated by the usual growth curve could be produced by albedo neutrons and/or cosmic ray protons interacting with the carbon and/or hydrogen of the detector. They are the albedo neutron-carbon interaction gamma-rays, cosmic ray proton interaction delayed gamma rays and the moderated albedo neutron-proton photocapture gamma rays. It is decisive to know the contribution of these backgrounds, because they must be subtracted before the cosmic diffuse flux can be determined. Estimates of the neutron induced background events in a Compton telescope show that they might contribute a considerable fraction of the counting rate. In the near future the calculations will be checked with a calibrated neutron beam.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong, T. W., Chandler, K. C., and Barish, J.: 1973,J. Geophys. Res. 78, 2715.
Barnard, A. C., Swint, J. B., and Clegg, T. B.: 1966,Nucl. Phys. 86, 130.
Blumberg, L. N., Gross, E. E., Van der Woude, A., Zucker, A., and Bassel, R. H.: 1966,Phys. Rev. 147, 812.
Boreli, F., Kinsey, B. B., and Shirivastara, P. N.: 1968,Phys. Rev. 174, 1147.
Clegg, A. B., Foley, K. J., Salmon, G. L., and Segel, R. E.: 1961,Proc. Phys. Soc. 78, 681.
Cumming, J. B., Friedlander, G., and Katcoff, S.: 1962,Phys. Rev. 125, 2078.
Dickens, J. K., Haner, D., and Waddell, C.: 1963,Phys. Rev. 132, 2159.
Dyer, C. S. and Morfill, G. E.: 1971,Astrophys. Space Sci. 14, 243.
Dyer, C. S., Engel, A. R., and Queenby, J. J.: 1972,Astrophys. Space Sci. 19, 359.
Fannon, J. A., Burge, E. J., and Smith, D. A.: 1967,Nucl. Phys. A97, 263.
Fishman, G. J.: 1972,Astrophys. J. 171, 163.
Herzo, D., Koga, R., and White, R. S.: 1974,Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 6, 276.
Herzo, D., Koga, R., Millard, W., Moon, S., Ryan, J., Wilson, R., Zych, A., and White, R. S.: 1975,Nucl. Instr. Meth. 123, 583.
Horowitz, Y. S. and Bell, R. E.: 1970,Can. J. Phys. 48, 201.
Horwitz, N. and Murray, J. J.: 1960,Phys. Rev. 117, 1361.
Hughes, D. J. and Schwartz, R. D.: 1958, ‘Neutron Cross-Sections, BNL-325’, Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Hughes, D. J., Magurno, B. A., and Brussel, M. K.: 1960, ‘Neutron Cross-Sections, Supplement Number 1, BNL-325’.
Jenkins, R. W., Ifedili, S. O., Lockwood, J. A. and Razdan, A.: 1971,J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7470.
Kanbach, G., Reppin, C., and Schönfelder, V.: 1974,Geophys. Res. 79, 5159.
Lockwood, J. A.: 1973,Space Sci. Rev. 14, 663.
Measday, D. F. and Richard-Serve, C.: 1969,Nucl. Instr. Meth. 76, 45.
Merker, M.: 1972,Phys. Rev. Letters 29, 1531.
Preszler, A. M., Simnett, G. M., and White, R. S.: 1972,Phys. Rev. Letters 28, 982.
Preszler, A. M., Simnett, G. M., and White, R. S.: 1974,J. Geophys. Res. 79, 17.
Schönfelder, V., Hirner, A., and Schneider, K.: 1973,Nucl. Instr. Meth. 107, 385.
Schönfelder, V. and Lichti, G.: 1973,Proc. 13th Int. Conf. on Cosmic Rays, Denver,4, 2709.
Schönfelder, V. and Lichti, G.: 1974,Astrophys. J. 191, L1.
Symonds, J. L., Warren, J., and Young, J. D.: 1957,Proc. Phys. Soc. A70, 824.
Valentin, L., Albouy, G., Cohen, J. P., and Gusakow, M.: 1963,Phys. Letters 7, 163.
White, R. Stephen: 1973,Rev. Geophys. 11, 595.
White, R. S., Moon, S., Preszler, A. M., and Simnett, G. M.: 1973,Space Res. 13, 683.
Zobel, W., Maienschein, F. C., Todd, J. H., and Chapman, G. T.: 1968,Nucl. Sci. Eng. 32, 392.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Much of this work was carried out during a visiting professorship at the Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching bei München, Deutschland.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
White, R.S., Schönfelder, V. Neutron and proton interaction backgrounds in compton-telescopes used for gamma-ray astronomy. Astrophys Space Sci 38, 19–27 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00646096
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00646096