High-Energy X-Ray Detector
Cloud TV Desk: An international team of scientists has developed a highly sensitive high-energy X-ray detector that could revolutionize the study of some of the universe’s most extreme objects, including black holes, pulsars, and neutron stars. The breakthrough was achieved by researchers from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, in collaboration with Stanford University in the United States.
The newly designed detector is a one-dimensional position-sensitive detector built for Compton X-ray polarimeters. Its primary goal is to measure the polarization of hard X-rays emitted by powerful cosmic sources. Polarization refers to the direction in which light waves oscillate, and studying polarized X-rays can provide crucial information about the magnetic fields, geometry, and physical processes occurring around extreme astronomical objects.
Scientists have long faced challenges in detecting high-energy X-rays because these photons are rare and often obscured by background noise. To address this problem, the research team developed a detector using Sodium Iodide crystals equipped with dual-ended sensors. This innovative design significantly reduces background interference while improving the accuracy of X-ray detection.
According to the researchers, the detector can precisely identify the location where incoming X-rays interact within the crystal. This capability enhances the sensitivity of X-ray polarimeters and enables more accurate measurements of cosmic radiation. Such improvements are expected to help astronomers better understand how matter behaves in the intense gravitational and magnetic environments surrounding black holes and pulsars.
High-energy X-ray astronomy plays a critical role in studying some of the most energetic events in the universe. These include black hole accretion disks, neutron star collisions, supernova remnants, and powerful cosmic jets. Improved detectors could allow scientists to investigate these phenomena with unprecedented detail.
Researchers believe the new technology could contribute to future space-based X-ray missions and help answer fundamental questions about the universe’s most powerful cosmic accelerators. The achievement marks a significant step forward in astrophysics instrumentation and demonstrates India’s growing contribution to cutting-edge space science research.
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