Journal Article

The XGS instrument on-board THESEUS

Zampa, G., Piemonte, C., Bellutti, P., Fuschino, F., Vacchi, A., Rignanese, L. P., Fiorini, M., Amati, L., Evangelista, Y., Marisaldi, M., Uslenghi, M., Feroci, M., Campana, R., Elmi, I., Rachevski, A., Labanti, C., Zampa, N., Baldazzi, G., Frontera, F., Rashevskaya, I.

2016

Overview

Consolidated techniques used for space-borne X-ray and gamma-ray instruments are based on the use of scintillators coupled to Silicon photo-detectors. This technology associated with modern very low noise read-out electronics allows the design of innovative architectures able to reduce drastically the system complexity and power consumption, also with a moderate-to-high number of channels. These detector architectures can be exploited in the design of space instrumentation for gamma-spectroscopy with the benefit of possible smart background rejection strategies. We describe a detector prototype with 3D imaging capabilities to be employed in future gamma-ray and particle space missions in the 0.002-100 MeV energy range. The instrument is based on a stack of scintillating bars read out by Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) at both ends. The spatial segmentation and the crystal double-side readout allow a 3D position reconstruction with ∼3 mm accuracy within the full active volume, using a 2D readout along the two external faces of the detector. Furthermore, one of the side of SDDs can be used simultaneously to detect X-rays in the 2-30 keV energy range. The characteristics of this instrument make it suitable in next generation gamma-ray and particle space missions for Earth or outer space observations, and it will be briefly illustrated.

• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Subject: Gamma spectroscopy / Image reconstruction / Image segmentation / Low noise / Physics / Power consumption / Scintillation counters / Sensors / Silicon / Space missions