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Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik

- Gamma-Ray Astronomy -

Project:   MEGA

 
  MPEMPE   GroupGamma-Ray Astronomy   GroupProjects   ProjectMEGA

Project MEGA

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Overview

MEGA is planned as a telescope for Medium Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy in the energy range between 400 keV and 50 MeV.

After a development period of about 5 years MEGA could be an essential component of the next generation fleet of high energy astrophysics satellite observatories, filling the gap between hard X-rays/low gamma rays (Integral) and high energy gamma-ray missions (AGILE, GLAST).

In this energy range MEGA exploits the two dominating interaction mechanisms for gamma rays: Compton scattering and Pair creation. To fulfill this purpose best, MEGA has two detectors: A tracker, consisting of double-sided silicon strip detectors, and a calorimeter, consisting of highly segmented CsI(Tl) bars.

In the tracker the Compton and Pair interactions take place and the direction and energy of the participating electrons and positrons is measured. In the calorimeters the Compton scattered gamma rays are stopped and thus their energy and direction is determined. With all this information the origin of the gamma ray on the hemisphere can be reconstructed.
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Presently a prototype for the MEGA detector exists, which has been designed, built, assembled and calibrated at MPE. For more details see the prototype page.

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