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Solar flare gamma-ray and hard x ray imaging with the GRID-on-a-balloonA primary scientific objective for solar flare research during the rapidly approaching maximum in solar activity is the imaging of gamma-ray and hard x ray sources of solar flare emissions. These goals will be pursued by the Gamma Ray Imaging Device (GRID) instrument, one of three instruments recently selected for NASA's Max '91 Solar Balloon Program. The GRID instrument is based on the technique of Fourier transform imaging and utilizes scanning modulation grid collimator optics to provide full-Sun imaging with 1.9-arcsecond resolution over the energy range from 20 to 700 keV at time resolutions from 0.1 to 2 s. The GRID telescope will employ 32 subcollimators, each composed of a matched pair of high-Z collimator grids separated by 5.2 meters and a phoswich scintillation spectrometer detector having no spatial resolution. The subcollimators and integrally-mounted fine aspect system are contained within a telescope canister which will be pointed to 0.1 degree accuracy and cyclically scanned to produce source modulation. The 32 subcollimators provide a uniform distribution of grid slit orientations and a logarithmic distribution of slit spacings corresponding to angular dimensions of 1.9 arcseconds to several arcminutes. The instrument is several orders of magnitude more sensitive than the HXIS instrument on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) and nearly 10 times more sensitive than any similar instrument scheduled to fly during the next solar maximum. The payload, designed for long-duration high-altitude balloon capability, is scheduled for its first science flight (8 to 14 days duration) from the Antarctic in January of 1992.
Document ID
19900003158
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Orwig, Larry E. (Catholic Univ. of America Washington, DC., United States)
Crannell, C. J. (California Univ. Berkeley., United States)
Dennis, Brian R. (California Univ. San Diego., United States)
Starr, R. (Delft Hydraulics Lab. (Netherlands). AL., United States)
Hurford, G. J. (Auburn Univ. Washington, DC., United States)
Hudson, H. S. (Naval Research Lab. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Vanbeek, F. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Greene, M. E. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Johnson, W. N. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Washington, DC., United States)
Norris, J. P. (Naval Research Lab.)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Max '91 Workshop 2: Developments in Observations and Theory for Solar Cycle 22
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Accession Number
90N12474
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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