Compton Telescopes for Gamma-Ray Astrophysics
Steve Boggs
Space Sciences Laboratory, U.C. Berkeley
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
11:00 AM
Building 151, Room 1209
(Stevenson Conference Room)

Abstract:
A number of researchers are developing technologies for a next generation soft gamma-ray (0.5-30 MeV) Compton telescopes to study astrophysical sources of nuclear line emission and gamma-ray spectra and polarization. These technologies have in common the development of 3-D gamma-ray tracking detectors, which promise to dramatically improve sensitivity to astrophysical sources. These detectors track photons as they Compton scatter throughout the instrument, providing a powerful new tool for background rejection, Compton imaging, and polarization studies. I will discuss the scientific goals driving experimental gamma-ray astrophysics, as well as current and upcoming instruments to address these goals.