Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9844983 | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment | 2005 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
Optical and ageing properties of hydrophobic silica aerogel have been measured. The optical observations include the determination of the index of refraction of individual aerogel samples, and transmittance measurements. Concerning ageing, we investigate possible explanations for an appreciable decrease on the light yield observed in the aerogel tiles used in the AMS-01 Cherenkov detector, flown on board of the NASA Discovery Shuttle. Measurements were carried out simulating the vacuum and thermal cycle to which the aerogel was subject. These tests indicate that this material is very sensitive to residual contaminants that might be present during the vacuum pumping and/or gas admission process.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Instrumentation
Authors
A. MartÃnez-Dávalos, E. Belmont-Moreno, A. Menchaca-Rocha,