TIGRE Gamma-Ray Telescope

Just down the hall from where our Astro class meets for lecture, an interesting telescope sits in a lab. The TIGRE (Tracking and Imaging Gamma-Ray Experiment) Gamma-Ray Telescope. This is a balloon-borne telescope designed to map the universe in the 0.3-100 MeV range. Its design is quite ingenious and sets it apart from other Compton telescopes.


The detectors consist of essentially two parts, which are referred to as D1 and D2. D1 consists of 50 of more double sided silicon strip detectors (SSD). The events passing through these detectors are given X & Y coordinates and have an resolution of less than 1mm. D2 consists of 5 to 10 cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) strip detectors which surround D1 on five sides. This allows for detection of large angle scatter events and allows the telescope to also act as a gamma-ray polarimeter, both of which are new to Compton telescopes.


The Compton scattering event happens in D1 and the electron is tracked as it passes through the detector and the energy of the scattered electron is measured. The photon is then absorbed in D2. Timing and pulse height analysis are used to give the direction of the scattered photon. Because of this, the possible directions of the incident gamma-ray is greatly reduced from a ring to a small arc of the sky. Also, this telescope has background rejecting capabilities which leads to enhanced sensitivity and resolving power.


This telescope was last launched in April of 2010 in Australia. Both UC Berkeley and UCR were in Australia launching Gamma-Ray telescopes during this time. UCR went first and had a very successful launch. Later, it was Berkeley's turn. The following is a video of the disastrous launch of the UC Berkeley telescope:

Go UCR!

Here are some neat pictures of the telescope:

For more info on the TIGRE Gamma-Ray Telescope go to:

http://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/2010/ASP-20100416.htm