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High-energy Antimatter Telescope (HEAT): basic design and performance

  • Stephane Coutu
  • , S. W. Barwick
  • , A. Bhattacharyya
  • , James J. Beatty
  • , C. R. Bower
  • , C. Chaput
  • , G. De Nolfo
  • , Don Ellithorpe
  • , D. Ficenec
  • , J. Knapp
  • , D. M. Lowder
  • , S. M. McKee
  • , Dietrich Mueller
  • , J. A. Musser
  • , S. L. Nutter

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The high-energy antimatter telescope (HEAT) instrument has been flown successfully by high-altitude balloon in 1994 and 1995, in a configuration optimized for the detection and identification of cosmic-ray electrons and positrons at energies from about 1 GeV up to 50 GeV and beyond. It consists of a two-coil superconducting magnet and a precision drift-tube tracking hodoscope, complemented with a time-of-flight system, a transition radiation detector and an electromagnetic shower counter. We review the design criteria for optimal e ± detection and identification, and assess the instruments' performance and background rejection during its first two flights. We also review the adaptation of HEAT for measurements of high-energy cosmic-ray antiprotons and for isotopic composition studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
EditorsBrian D. Ramsey, Thomas A. Parnell
Pages113-120
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 1996
EventGamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Detectors, Techniques, and Missions - Denver, CO, USA
Duration: Aug 5 1996Aug 7 1996

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume2806

Other

OtherGamma-Ray and Cosmic-Ray Detectors, Techniques, and Missions
CityDenver, CO, USA
Period8/5/968/7/96

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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