A lunar CubeSat mission for high-sensitivity nuclear astrophysics

Maria Pinilla; Peter F. Bloser; James R. Tutt; Katherine E. Mesick; Suzanne Nowicki; Matthew Mumpower; Richard S. Miller

doi:10.1117/12.2576179

13 December 2020 A lunar CubeSat mission for high-sensitivity nuclear astrophysics

Maria Pinilla, Peter F. Bloser, James R. Tutt, Katherine E. Mesick, Suzanne Nowicki, Matthew Mumpower, Richard S. Miller

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11444, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 1144456 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2576179
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Conference Poster

Abstract

MeV astronomy provides unique and direct diagnostics of cosmic explosions and chemical evolution. Gammaray lines provide detailed information on nuclear physics processes throughout the universe. New instruments sensitive to MeV gamma-ray lines are needed. A new instrument concept with high energy and angular resolution is proposed to study nuclear astrophysics in the medium gamma-ray energy range. The system consists of a 12U CubeSat carrying onboard CdZnTe detectors that will be placed in orbit around the moon. The Lunar Occultation Technique will be used to analyze the changes in counting rate during occultations of the moon to pinpoint the location of gamma-ray line flux at precise locations in the sky. The lack of lunar atmosphere, stable background, and low-mass spacecraft provides the perfect environment for high sensitivity gamma-ray spectroscopy and good angular resolution. Simulation studies using MCNP6 were used to determine the expected instrument eciency and lunar gamma-ray background environment. An initial simulation study indicates that the proposed instrument can achieve sensitivity to gamma-ray lines comparable to much larger proposed Compton Telescopes.

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Maria Pinilla, Peter F. Bloser, James R. Tutt, Katherine E. Mesick, Suzanne Nowicki, Matthew Mumpower, and Richard S. Miller "A lunar CubeSat mission for high-sensitivity nuclear astrophysics", Proc. SPIE 11444, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 1144456 (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2576179

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