Form 9.B Project Summary
Chron:
970261
Proposal
Number:
17.01-5179
Project Title:
Innovative, Low Mass, Passively
Cooled, All Composite Material Tower
Structure for High Resolution
Charged-Particle Tracking in a
Gamma-Ray Space Telescope
Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)
Hytec has conceived of an innovative structural and
cooling arrangement for a silicon-based high energy
gamma-ray (.01-100 Gev) tracking detector that will
measurably improve the resolution of detection
systems being pursued by NASA. We achieve a
compact, and passively cooled tower design through
an innovative approach to the structural design of a
tray concept, and the method of combining trays
into a tower configuration. Our concept offers a
means to reduce dead area between active tracking
regions, thus improving track reconstruction
efficiency and background rejection. By using
advanced composite materials, we achieve a low
mass structure, passively cooled tracking detector
with a high degree of temperature uniformity in the
silicon modules. Our design concept focuses on
minimizing structural mass in front of the
conversion layer to limit multiple scattering of
charged particles. The composite materials have a
high radiation length, second only to Beryllium, and
thus, further minimize multiple scattering.
Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)
The most immediate commercial application of this
technology is the construction of GLAST. It is
anticipated major aerospace system contractors
that will be constructing GLAST would be the
customer base for utilizing the developed
technology. Also, cooling of the electronics will lead
to solutions that should find commercial application
in printed circuit board cooling. Chip heat fluxes are
steadily increasing, cooling advances in this area
should be directly applicable.
Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,
Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)
Dr. Eric Ponslet
HYTEC, Inc.
110 Eastgate Drive, Suite 100
Los Alamos , NM 87544
Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,
City/State/Zip)
Mr. W. O. Miller
HYTEC, Inc.
110 Eastgate Drive, Suite 100
Los Alamos , NM 87544