The STAR Time Projection Chamber (TPC) is used to record collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The TPC is the central element in a suite of detectors that surrounds the interaction vertex. The TPC provides complete coverage around the beam-line, and provides complete tracking for charged particles within ± 1.8 units of pseudo-rapidity of the center-of-mass frame. Charged particles with momenta greater than 100 MeV/c are Preprint submitted to Elsevier Science 5 February 2008 recorded. Multiplicities in excess of 3,000 tracks per event are routinely reconstructed in the software. The TPC measures 4 m in diameter by 4.2 m long, making it the largest TPC in the world.

A Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS) instrument has been developed as part of the science payload for NASA's Discovery Program mission to the planet Mercury. Mercury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSEN-GER) launched successfully in 2004 and will journey more than six years before entering

We report on the development of high-sensitivity and compact Compton imaging systems built of large and position-sensitive Si(Li) and HPGe detectors. The primary goal of this effort is to provide improved capabilities in the passive detection of nuclear materials for homeland security. Our detectors are implemented in double-sided strip configuration which -along with digital signal processing -provides energies and three-dimensional position information of individual gamma-ray interactions. Gamma-ray tracking algorithms are then determining the scattering sequence of the gamma ray which in turn allows us -employing the Compton scattering formula -to reconstruct a cone of possible incident angles and ultimately an image. This Compton imaging concept enables large-field-of-view gamma-ray imaging without the use of a heavy collimator or aperture. The intrinsically high energy resolution of the detectors used, the excellent position resolution we have demonstrated, both combined with the high efficiency of large-volume detectors is the basis for high Compton imaging sensitivity. These capabilities are being developed to identify and localize potential threat sources and to potentially increase the sensitivity in detecting weak sources out of the midst of natural, medical, or commercial sources. Gamma-ray imaging provides a new degree of freedom to distinguish between spatial and temporal background fluctuations and compact threat sources.

The Mars-moon Exploration with GAmma rays and NEutrons (MEGANE) investigation will use gamma-ray and neutron spectroscopy to measure the elemental composition of Mars' moon Phobos. MEGANE is part of the Japanese Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission that will make comprehensive remote sensing measurements of both of Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos. MMX will also return to Earth regolith samples of Phobos. The science goals of the MEGANE investigation mirror those of the MMX mission. MEGANE will use elemental composition measurements to determine if Phobos is a captured asteroid or the end result of a giant impact event on Mars, study Phobos surface processes, provide reconnaissance to support the sample site selection, and supply compositional context for the returned samples. To accomplish its measurements, MEGANE will use a high-purity Ge gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS), and a neutron spectrometer (NS) that consists of two 3 He gas proportional neutron sensors. The GRS derives heritage from similar instruments from NASA's MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging mission and the Psyche mission that is currently in development; the NS is based on similar instruments used for NASA's Lunar Prospector and Psyche missions.

Due to advances in manufacturing large and highly segmented HPGe detectors along with the availability of fast and high precision digital electronics it is now possible to build efficient and high-resolution Compton cameras. Two-dimensionally segmented semi-conductor detectors along with pulse-shape analysis allow to obtain three-dimensional positions and energies of individual gamma-ray interactions. By employing gamma-ray tracking procedures it is possible to determine the scattering sequence in the detector and ultimately to deduce the incident direction of gamma rays without the use of a attenuating collimator. These advanced gamma-ray tracking based Compton cameras are able not only to image gamma-ray sources with higher sensitivity than collimator-based systems but can increase the sensitivity in finding gamma-ray sources over non-imaging detectors, particularly in complex radiation fields. We have implemented a Compton camera built of a single doubule-sided strip HPGe detector with a strip pitch size of 2mm. A three-dimensional position resolution of 0.5mm at 122keV by using simple pulse-shape analysis is achieved. We have implemented image reconstruction procedures for search scenarios, which are of interest for national security applications. In addition, we have developed reconstruction procedures to optimize image quality which potentially finds applications in other areas as well.