Radioactivity induced background noise in space-borne astronomical gamma-ray telescopes employing inorganic scintillation spectrometers

Based on monoenergetic proton beam tests of both NaI and CsI, a method for estimating the spallation background, due to the cosmic ray protons and trapped protons, has been developed. Comparisons between the calculated background noise and those measured by telescopes on board satellites are made. Good agreements of these comparisons demonstrate that the approach is capable of providing realistic estimates for specific space borne gamma-ray telescopes in well defined orbits.