A stilbene scintillator detector allowing gamma-ray spectrometry in the range 0.5–5 MeV is presented. A complete elimination of charged particles is obtained by a plastic scintillator anticoïncidence jacket. Separation of gamma rays from neutrons is made by pulse shape discrimination technique with over 99% efficiency. This detector which has a 4 π field of view has been made as light as possible to avoid perturbation due to secondary production in the apparatus. The correction of the edge effects and the method of conversion from experimental Compton electron spectrum to gamma-ray spectrum are explained.Results from balloon launchings at three latitudes (Kourou Guyana: 10 N, Aire sur l'Adour: 46°N and Oboziersky U.S.S.R.: 62 °N) are briefly presented. The detection possibility with balloons of galactic gamma rays at equatorial latitude is shown. The atmospheric part of the flux at the equator is deduced from the measurements at higher latitudes, (46 °N and 62 °N) where the galactic component is of negligible importance. Assuming a power law spectrum and after correction of the atmospheric absorption we obtain for the galactic spectrum the expression dN/dE = 1.1 × 10−5E−1, 2 photons/cm2 s sr keV. This spectrum agrees with the results of ERS 18 satellite given by Vette et al. showing an excess of flux for energies higher than 1 MeV.
Gamma-Ray Spectrometry in the Energy Range 0.5–5 MeV
