The COMPTEL instrumental-line background
G. Weidenspointner, M. Varendorff, U. Oberlack, S. Plüschke, R. Diehl, V. Schönfelder
D. Morris, M. McConnell, J. Ryan
S.C. Kappadath
Abstract
The instrumental-line background of the Compton telescope COMPTEL
onboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory is due to the activation
and/or decay of a number of different isotopes. The major components
of the COMPTEL instrumental-line background can be attributed to eight
individual isotopes, namely 2D, 22Na, 24Na, 28Al,
40K, 52Mn, 57Ni, and 208Tl. In addition, evidence
for the presence of 27Mg has been obtained in the search for
gamma-ray lines from supernovae. The identification of the instrumental
lines with specific isotopes is based on the line energies as well as
on the variation of the activity with time, cosmic-ray intensity and
deposited radiation dose during passages through the South-Atlantic
Anomaly. The characteristic variation of the activity due to an
individual isotope depends on its life-time, orbital parameters such
as the height of the satellite above Earth, and the solar cycle.
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On 16 Jul 1999, 09:19.