The resolution, r%, of a gamma ray telescope depends on the energy v (in millions of

Chapter 11, Problem 70

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The resolution, r%, of a gamma ray telescope depends on the energy v (in millions of electron volts, or MeVs) of the detected gamma rays.34 The smaller the value of r, the better the telescope is at distinguishing two gamma ray photons of slightly different energies, and the more detailed observations that can be made. Table 11.48 gives values of r for gamma rays at different energies. (a) Plot the data in Table 11.48, with r on the vertical axis. (b) Based on this data, is the telescope better able to distinguish between high-energy photons or lowenergy photons? (c) Fit both power and exponential functions to the data, and give their formulas. Which appears to give the better fit? (d) The telescope is predicted to grow rapidly worse and worse at distinguishing photons as the energy level drops toward 0 MeV. Which curve, power or exponential, is most consistent with this prediction?