Plans for the first balloon flight of the gamma-ray polarimeter experiment (GRAPE)

McConnell, Mark L.; Bancroft, Christopher M.; Bloser, Peter F.; Connor, Taylor; Frost, Colin; Legere, Jason S.; Longworth, S.; Pape, Gerard B.; Ryan, J. M.

doi:10.1117/12.857467

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The GRAPE [112][113][114][115][116][117] polarimeter is based on Compton scattering between low-Z scatterers and high-Z absorbers in a squared array of scintillating bars. It is a balloon-born hard X-ray polarimeter which operate between 50 keV and 500 keV, for GRBs observations.…”

Section: Grape (Gamma Ray Polarimeter Experiment)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Instrumentation and Future Missions in the Upcoming Era of X-ray Polarimetry

Fabiani

2018

Galaxies

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The maturity of current detectors based on technologies that range from solid state to gases renewed the interest for X-ray polarimetry, raising the enthusiasm of a wide scientific community to improve the performance of polarimeters as well as to produce more detailed theoretical predictions. We will introduce the basic concepts about measuring the polarization of photons, especially in the X-rays, and we will review the current state of the art of polarimeters in a wide energy range from soft to hard X-rays, from solar flares to distant astrophysical sources. We will introduce relevant examples of polarimeters developed from the recent past up to the panorama of upcoming space missions to show how the recent development of the technology is allowing reopening the observational window of X-ray polarimetry.

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Section: Grape (Gamma Ray Polarimeter Experiment)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Instrumentation and Future Missions in the Upcoming Era of X-ray Polarimetry

Fabiani

2018

Galaxies

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“…The GRAPE design is modular. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The detection concept of a single module is shown in Fig. 2.…”

Section: The Grape Polarimetermentioning

confidence: 99%

Plans for the next GRAPE balloon flight

et al. 2013

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The Gamma RAy Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE) was first flown on a 26-hour balloon flight in the fall of 2011. GRAPE consists of an array of Compton polarimeter modules (based on traditional scintillation technologies) designed to operate in the energy range from 50 keV up to 500 keV. The ultimate goal is to operate GRAPE in a wide FoV configuration for the study of gamma-ray bursts. For the first (demonstration) balloon flight, GRAPE was configured in a collimated mode to facilitate observations of known point sources. The Crab nebula/pulsar, the active Sun, and Cygnus X-1 were the primary targets for the first flight. Although the Crab was detected, the polarization sensitivity was worse than expected. This paper will review the plans for the next GRAPE balloon flight, which is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2014 from Ft. Sumner, NM. These plans involve several modifications designed to improve the polarization sensitivity, including an expansion of the array of polarimeter modules from 16 to 24 and improvements to the instrument shielding. Sensitivity estimates of the resulting instrument, based on GEANT4 simulations, will be presented.

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“…GRAPE (Gamma RAy Polarimeter Experiment) is a Compton polarimeter that operates at the hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray energy band (50-500 keV) [1]- [5]. GRAPE is designed to investigate the acceleration mechanisms of astronomical phenomena, such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), solar flares, and pulsars using polarization measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparations for the first balloon flight of the Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

McConnell

Bancroft

Bloser

et al. 2010

IEEE Nuclear Science Symposuim &Amp; Medical Imaging Conference

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We have developed a design for a hard X-ray Compton polarimeter operating in the energy range from 50 to 500 keV, which we refer to as GRAPE (Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment). We are currently preparing a balloon payload for a flight from Ft. Sumner, NM in the fall of 2011. Using a large (16-element) array of detector modules, this payload is being designed to search for polarization from known point sources of radiation, namely the Crab and Cygnus X-1. This first flight will not only provide a scientific demonstration of the GRAPE design (by measuring polarization from the Crab nebula), it will also lay the foundation for subsequent long duration balloon flights that will be designed for studying polarization from gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. Here we shall present data from calibration of the first flight module detectors and review the latest payload design.

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Plans for the first balloon flight of the gamma-ray polarimeter experiment (GRAPE)

Cited by 6 publications

References 14 publications

Instrumentation and Future Missions in the Upcoming Era of X-ray Polarimetry

Instrumentation and Future Missions in the Upcoming Era of X-ray Polarimetry

Plans for the next GRAPE balloon flight

Preparations for the first balloon flight of the Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE)

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