Development of stainless steel gas electron multipliers

Completed TRL 3

Description

We will develop gas electron multipliers GEMs) that are robust in negative ion gas to improve the sensitivity of X-ray Polarimeters.

We will develop a technique for fabricating GEMs that will both maintain the required spacing over arbitrarily large areas and be self-aligning. It will be based on separating two tensioned foils.

We will establish the foil tensioning technique and the optimum spacing between the foils.

When the process is finalized, we will formalize the foil tensioning technique and measure creep, temperature stability and flatness using methods established for GEM testing.
Finally we will assemble a 3x7 cm² GEM that will be integrated into a polarimeter and we will measure the gain uniformity over the area of the GEM.

Benefits

Improves the sensitivity of exsiting polarimeters by ~ factor of 3.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Detectors and Focal Planes
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2015-10-01
End date	2016-09-01

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Stan Hunter — Stanley.D.Hunter@nasa.gov
Joanne E Hill-kittle — joanne.e.hill@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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