Recently, the BGO electromagnetic calorimeter of Dark Matter Explorer(DAMPE) satellite , of which USTC DAMPE group is responsible of, has successfully been accepted qualification, thus guaranteeing the process of the satellite project.
The BGO calorimeter is the key sub-detector of the DAMPE. The main functions of BGO calorimeter are to measure the high energy electrons and gamma-rays and accordingly identify them, to generate triggers of the whole detector. As is introduced by Shubin Liu, the chief designer of the calorimeter, 308 sensitive detectors (consist of a BGO bar of 60com with two PMTs on both ends) arranged in 14 layers. There are also complicated front end electronics and related bracing structure. The BGO calorimeter has features like advanced in the world, heavy in weight(up to half of the satellite total weight), complex in structure, huge in readout channel number. The calorimeter also has requirements like limit in size since it is satellite load, low power dissipation requirements and high reliability requirements. All of these have made the calorimeter a huge challenge.
The DAMPE satellite is one of the five satellites planned in strategic priority research program on space science of the Chinese Academy of Science, and also the first satellite in China’s scientific research satellite series. Its scientific goal is to search and research on dark matter particles, by methods like observing high-energy electrons and gamma through high spatial resolution and wide energy range detection. Apart from dark matter detection, cosmic ray origination and gamma astronomy care also on the research lists. The satellite is consist of four sub detectors, the plastic scintillator detector, the silicon detector, the BGO calorimeter and the neutron detector. This detector has the widest detection range and the best energy resolution, which enables it to be superior to detectors of the same kind. May the 28th, DAMPE has completed tests and been handed over to satellite.
(LIU Shubing,School of Physical Sciences)