The ComPair mission instrument measures and detects gamma-ray emissions from astrophysical objects. The NRL instrument is among the 4 subsystem devices led by NASA GSFC. The mission title – ComPair – is impressed by the mechanisms by which gamma rays work together with matter.
“They accomplish that by way of three dominant processes – photoelectric impact, Compton scattering, and pair manufacturing. These interplay mechanisms are depending on vitality, the place photoelectric happens on the lowest energies and pair manufacturing on the highest,” stated NRL House Science Division Analysis Physicist Richard S. Woolf, Ph.D. “The design of the ComPair instrument employs expertise to measure gamma rays from each the Compton and the pair manufacturing regimes, therefore Compton-Pair or ComPair.”
“Gamma rays enable us to check the highest-energy processes within the universe: starting from nucleosynthesis in supernovae; jets from supermassive black holes; and gamma-ray bursts from the merger of astrophysical objects with excessive densities, like neutron stars and black holes,” stated Woolf. “The environment largely blocks astrophysical sources of gamma rays from reaching the bottom at sea stage, to measure the rays, the instrument wants to succeed in above nearly all of the environment as much as 130,000 ft.”
The purpose within the growth of this instrument is to extend the technical readiness stage (TRL) of this gamma ray expertise. One of many final steps in advancing the TRL for gamma-ray devices is to fly on a high-altitude balloon.
“The hope is that what we study throughout this part will likely be utilized to a bigger, extra delicate mission that goes into orbit for a future NASA-led mission referred to as the All-sky Medium Vitality Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X). AMEGO-X is a medium-class mission that will likely be proposed to the NASA Explorers program announcement of alternative, anticipated in 2026,” Woolf stated.
After the launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray House Telescope in June 2008, the gamma-ray group began to think about the place they need to focus their consideration subsequent. The concept was to make use of the same design to Fermi however with sensitivity within the a lot lower-energy vary of the gamma ray spectrum.
“The ComPair instrument design relies on a earlier NRL-led instrument, the Fermi Giant Space Telescope (LAT) calorimeter, containing scintillation crystals, that means they emit mild or scintillates when ionizing radiation passes via it,” Woolf stated. “ComPair expands on the expertise of the Fermi LAT calorimeter by utilizing a novel scintillation mild readout system referred to as a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to the crystals that comprise the calorimeter. These SiPMs are extra delicate for studying out scintillation mild, enabling gamma-ray detection within the Compton area.”
Scintillation is the bodily course of the place a cloth, known as a scintillator, emits ultraviolet or seen mild underneath excitation from excessive vitality photons: similar to, X-rays or gamma rays, or energetic particles.
The NRL House Science Division advances technical capabilities within the orbital monitoring, radio communications, and navigation realms affecting the operation of ships and plane, utility of the near-space and house setting of the Earth, and the elemental understanding of pure radiation and geophysical phenomena.
“NASA GSFC and NRL, have a historical past with this next-generation instrument from the beginning,” Woolf stated. “NRL’s preliminary funding from NASA commenced in early 2015 and has continued with a number of rounds of funding since, permitting us to construct a proof-of-concept prototype, take a look at the prototype at a number of accelerator beam checks, and now fly it on a high-altitude balloon.”
Concerning the U.S. Naval Analysis Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command devoted to analysis that drives progressive advances for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps from the seafloor to house and within the info area. NRL is positioned in Washington, D.C., with main subject websites in Stennis House Middle, Mississippi, Key West, Florida, and Monterey, California, and employs roughly 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and help personnel.
For extra info, contact NRL Company Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.
