A new tool for MeV astrophysics – the tunable Laue-lens

Niels Lund*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

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    Abstract

    A novel telescope for astronomy in the MeV energy band is presented. The concept builds on Bragg diffraction in crystals. Such ‘Laue-lenses’ have been discussed in the past, but so far a design with good sensitivity over a wide energy range seemed out of reach. In the first sections of this paper we shall show that if we find ways to adjust, in orbit, the individual tilt of all the crystals in the lens this would allow one single lens to cover with excellent efficiency the full range of energies from 200 keV to 2.5 MeV in a few observation steps. We also show, that lenses with double crystal layers may significantly increase the photon collection. In the subsequent sections we describe our proposed lens design in more detail and present our first prototype tilt adjustment pedestal for use with the individual lens facets.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
    EditorsJan-Willem A. den Herder, Shouleh Nikzad, Kazuhiro Nakazawa
    Number of pages7
    Volume11444
    PublisherSPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering
    Publication date2020
    Article number1144430
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020
    EventSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray - Online event
    Duration: 14 Dec 202018 Dec 2020

    Conference

    ConferenceSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
    LocationOnline event
    Period14/12/202018/12/2020
    SeriesProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    ISSN0277-786X

    Keywords

    • Gamma-ray astronomy
    • Telescopes
    • Laue lenses
    • Nuclear astrophysics

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