Gamma-ray observations at stratospheric altitudes with the Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

Karla Oñate Melecio; Mark McConnell; James Bundock; Camden Ertley; Fabian Kislat; Merlin Kole; Jason Legere; Emily Mello; Kevin Mello; Dominic Puopolo; Jimmy Zaid

doi:10.1117/12.3020647

22 August 2024 Gamma-ray observations at stratospheric altitudes with the Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

Karla Oñate Melecio, Mark McConnell, James Bundock, Camden Ertley, Fabian Kislat, Merlin Kole, Jason Legere, Emily Mello, Kevin Mello, Dominic Puopolo, Jimmy Zaid

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13093, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 130932K (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020647
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

The Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE) is a high-altitude balloon experiment designed for polarization studies of transient sources with a long-term goal of observing Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) aboard a series of Long Duration Balloon flights (LDBs). Polarization studies of GRB prompt emission is necessary to constrain existing physics models describing the radiation processes and magnetic field structures of astrophysical jets. GRAPE is a wide field of view (FoV) Compton polarimeter measuring γ-ray polarization in the 50-500 keV energy range with a broad range (20 keV – 3 MeV) for spectroscopy. The novel 3-dimensional geometry of the current design provides GRAPE with Compton imaging in addition to polarization capabilities. The instrument consists of 245 optically isolated SiPM coupled to either high-Z (GAGG:Ce) or low-Z (para-Terphenyl) scintillator arranged in a 7x7x5 cuboid structure. At the center of the scintillator array two low-Z detectors contain a ~25 nCi Co-60 calibration source for onboard calibrations. A test flight of this design was flown on August 27, 2023, from Fort Sumner, NM to validate the scientific capability of the instrument design. We will report on res

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Karla Oñate Melecio, Mark McConnell, James Bundock, Camden Ertley, Fabian Kislat, Merlin Kole, Jason Legere, Emily Mello, Kevin Mello, Dominic Puopolo, and Jimmy Zaid "Gamma-ray observations at stratospheric altitudes with the Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)", Proc. SPIE 13093, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 130932K (22 August 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020647

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available