High resolution gamma ray telescope using scintillating fibers and position sensitive photomultipliers

Recently high photon yielding and long attenuation length step index scintillating plastic fibers have been developed. Scintillating fibers of 1 mm diameter made of polystyrene doped with butyl-PBD and POPOP (λ = 420 nm), and clad with PMMA (poly-methylmetacrylate) have resulted attenuation lengths over 2 meters. Scintillating fibers stacked up into scintillating fiber planes U, V and W that are rotated by 60deg angle relative to each other and coupled to position sensitive photomultipliers can be used as high resolution imaging gamma-ray detectors. We are presenting the design of a large area gamma-ray telescope with high angular and energy resolution for space based experiments, using scintillating fibers and recently developed position sensitive photomultiplier tubes. (orig.)