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Performance of the Gamma-ray Transient Monitor at the IHEP Electron-Beam Facility

Pei-Yi Feng, Zheng-Hua An, Yu-Hui Li, Qi Le, Da-Li Zhang, Xin-Qiao Li, Shao-Lin Xiong, Hong-Fei Guan, Cai-Yun Shao, Chen-Wei Wang, Chao Zheng, Jia-Cong Liu, Xiang-Yang Wen, Sheng Yang, Ke Gong, Ya-Qing Liu, Xiao-Jing Liu, Min Gao, Xiao-Yun Zhao, Fan Zhang, Jin-Zhou Wang, Xi-Lei Sun, Cong-Zhan Liu, Wei-Bin Liu, Jian-Li Wang, Bing-Lin Deng, Yu-Guang Xie, He Xu, Hong Lu

Abstract

Gamma-Ray Transient Monitor (GTM) is an all-sky monitor onboard the Distant Retrograde Orbit-A (DRO-A) satellite, with the scientific objective of detecting gamma-ray bursts in the energy range of 20 keV to 1 MeV. GTM is equipped with five Gamma-Ray Transient Probes (GTPs), utilizing NaI(Tl) scintillators coupled with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays for signal readout. To test the performance of the GTP in detecting electrons, we used the IHEP Electron-Beam Facility (a continuous-energy-tunable, low-current, quasi-single-electron accelerator) for ground-based electron tests of the GTP. This paper provides a detailed description of the operating principles of the electron accelerator and presents the process and results of the GTP electron-beam tests. The test results show that the GTP has a dead time of less than 4 $μ$s for normal signals and approximately 70 $μ$s for overflow signals, consistent with the design specifications. The time-recording capability of the GTP was tested and found to be normal, with accurate recording of overflow events. The GTP's response to electrons in the 0.4-1.4 MeV range is also normal. Additionally, we used Geant4 to simulate the GTP's energy response and performed a comparative analysis of the simulation and experimental results. The performance tests and ground-based electron calibration validated the design of the GTP and enhanced the GTP's mass model, laying the foundation for payload development, in-orbit observation strategies, and scientific data analysis.

Performance of the Gamma-ray Transient Monitor at the IHEP Electron-Beam Facility

Abstract

Gamma-Ray Transient Monitor (GTM) is an all-sky monitor onboard the Distant Retrograde Orbit-A (DRO-A) satellite, with the scientific objective of detecting gamma-ray bursts in the energy range of 20 keV to 1 MeV. GTM is equipped with five Gamma-Ray Transient Probes (GTPs), utilizing NaI(Tl) scintillators coupled with silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays for signal readout. To test the performance of the GTP in detecting electrons, we used the IHEP Electron-Beam Facility (a continuous-energy-tunable, low-current, quasi-single-electron accelerator) for ground-based electron tests of the GTP. This paper provides a detailed description of the operating principles of the electron accelerator and presents the process and results of the GTP electron-beam tests. The test results show that the GTP has a dead time of less than 4 s for normal signals and approximately 70 s for overflow signals, consistent with the design specifications. The time-recording capability of the GTP was tested and found to be normal, with accurate recording of overflow events. The GTP's response to electrons in the 0.4-1.4 MeV range is also normal. Additionally, we used Geant4 to simulate the GTP's energy response and performed a comparative analysis of the simulation and experimental results. The performance tests and ground-based electron calibration validated the design of the GTP and enhanced the GTP's mass model, laying the foundation for payload development, in-orbit observation strategies, and scientific data analysis.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 10 sections, 4 equations, 16 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Instrument Design and Experimental Setup
  3. Design of Gamma-ray Transient Probe
  4. IHEP Electron-Beam Facility
  5. Electron Energy Response Simulation
  6. Electron-Beam Testing Results
  7. Dead-Time Testing
  8. Energy Response
  9. Summary
  10. Acknowledgments

Figures (16)

  • Figure 1: (a) Overview of DRO-A satellite. GTM consists of five Gamma-ray Transient Probes (GTPs) positioned on the four sides of the spacecraft. Four standard GTPs are individually mounted on the ±Y side (one GTP for each side) and the –X side (two GTPs), while one dedicated GTP for the –Z side. The standard GTP comprises detector components and radiation cooling plates, while the dedicated GTP is composed of detector components and brackets (with the brackets also doubling as radiation cooling plates). The detector label with GTP is for science usage, whereas that with ZY is for the crystal label of detector feng2024detector. (b) Structural diagram of GTP module onboard GTM feng2024detector. (c) NaI(Tl) crystal encapsulation. (d) A 100-chip SiPM array and a preamplifier circuit board.
  • Figure 2: Experimental layout of the continuous-energy-tunable, low-current, quasi-single-electron accelerator, located at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHEP Electron-Beam Facility).
  • Figure 3: (a) Electron accelerator tunnel. (b) Large vacuum chamber. (c) Electron testing site. The GTP is placed inside the vacuum chamber, and a laser level is used to align the positions of the GTP and the beam, with a positional deviation of approximately 2 mm between the center of the electron beam and the GTP.
  • Figure 4: (a) Composition and schematic diagram of the particle distribution detector (PDD) system. (b) Readout plane of the particle distribution detector. (c) Transverse distribution of the centroid position of the 40 MeV electron beam, based on the two-dimensional spatial monitoring results from the particle distribution detector.
  • Figure 5: Silicon detector (a) and plastic scintillator detector (b) are used to monitor beam energy and electron count.
  • ...and 11 more figures