Function
Since NASA scientists only wanted certain types of gamma rays to be processed and recorded, they set up EGRET with many systems of checks to filter out any unwanted information. The most basic type of filter EGRET had was only allowing gamma rays entering the telescope from certain angles to be let into the spark chamber. As the gamma ray travels through the spark chamber, it has of striking one of the metal plates within the spark chamber. Once the gamma ray comes in contact a plate of metal, it initiates the process of electron-positron pair production and creates an electron and positron. Once both the electron and positron have been created, if one of these particles is still moving down throughout the telescope and a signal from the anticoincidence scintillator isn’t fired, the particle is imaged and its energy level is recorded. With each gamma ray having to pass all of these systems of checks, the results of EGRET are supported to be the most valuable out of the other CGRO instruments.
Read more about this topic: Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope
Famous quotes containing the word function:
“To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way.”
—E.M. (Edward Morgan)
“Our father has an even more important function than modeling manhood for us. He is also the authority to let us relax the requirements of the masculine model: if our father accepts us, then that declares us masculine enough to join the company of men. We, in effect, have our diploma in masculinity and can go on to develop other skills.”
—Frank Pittman (20th century)
“It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error.”
—Robert H. [Houghwout] Jackson (1892–1954)