MeVCube: a 6U CubeSat concept for MeV observations

Abstract

Despite the impressive progresses achieved both by X-ray and gamma-ray observatories in the last decades, the energy range between ∼ 200 keV and ∼ 50 MeV remains poorly explored. COMPTEL, on-board CGRO (1991CGRO ( -2000, was the last telescope to accomplish a complete survey of the MeVsky with a relatively modest sensitivity. Missions like AMEGO have been proposed for the future, in order to fill this gap in observation; however, the time-scale for development and launch is about 10 years. On a shorter time-scale, a different approach may be profitable: MeV observations can be performed by a Compton telescope flying on a CubeSat.MeVCube is a 6U CubeSat concept currently under investigation at DESY, that could cover the energy range between hundreds of keV up to few MeVs with a sensitivity comparable to that of missions like COMPTEL and INTEGRAL. The Compton camera is based on pixelated Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CdZnTe) semiconductor detectors, coupled with low-power read-out electronics (ASIC, VATA450.3), ensuring a high detection efficiency and excellent energy resolution. In this work I will show measurements of the performance of a custom design CdZnTe detector and extrapolations of the expected telescope performance based on these measurements as well as simulations.

MeVCube: a CubeSat for MeV astronomy

“…MeVCube: a CubeSat for MeV ASIC and measurements of its performance can be found in Ref. 7. A preliminary read-out system for the cathode, based on a discrete AMPTEK A250 charge sensitive pre-amplifier and a DRS4 ASIC , has been developed at DESY .…”