MeVCube: a CubeSat for MeV astronomy

Discussion timeslot (ZOOM-Meeting): 20. July 2021 - 18:00
ZOOM-Meeting URL: https://desy.zoom.us/j/91999581729
ZOOM-Meeting ID: 91999581729
ZOOM-Meeting Passcode: ICRC2021
Corresponding Session: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/channel/43-New-and-Upcoming-Instruments-for-Space-Based-Gamma-Ray-Astronomy-GAD/87
Live-Stream URL: https://icrc2021-venue.desy.de/livestream/Discussion-05/6

Abstract:
Despite the impressive progresses achieved both by X-ray and gamma-ray observatories in the last decades, the energy range between $sim 200,mathrm{keV}$ and $sim 50,mathrm{MeV}$ remains poorly explored. COMPTEL, on-board CGRO (1991-2000), was the last telescope to accomplish a complete survey of the MeV-sky with a relatively modest sensitivity. Missions like AMEGO have been proposed for the future, in order to fill this gap in observation, however, the time-scale for development and launch is about 10 years. On a shorter time-scale, a different approach may be profitable: MeV observations can be performed by a Compton telescope flying on a CubeSat.rnMeVCube is a 6U CubeSat concept currently under investigation at DESY, that could cover the enery range between hundreds of keV up to few MeVs with a sensitivity comparable to that of missions like COMPTEL and INTEGRAL. The Compton camera is based on pixelated Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CdZnTe) semiconductor detectors, coupled with low-power read-out electronics (ASIC, VATA450.3), ensuring a high detection efficiency and excellent energy resolution. In this work I will show measurements of the performance of a custom design CdZnTe detector and extrapolations of the expected telescope performance based on these measurements as well as simulations.'

Authors: Giulio Lucchetta
Indico-ID: 149
Proceeding URL: https://pos.sissa.it/395/647