"Asimov" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Say, I've got a question about something I've read about the Swift
gamma ray detection satellite. It's detector consisted of an antenna
composed of 52,000 lead blocks arranged by computer generated
pseudo-random locations and glued to the back of a sheet of 4x8
plywood. The actual detectors where located in the spaces between the
blocks. It wasn't mentioned but I think these were probably crystals
which give off a pulse of electricity every time they are struck by a
gamma ray.

Anyways my question is, in your opinion, what is the purpose of the
pseudo random arrangement of this "apperture mask" antenna? I suspect
it has something statistical related to the nature of ambient noise
signals. I tried making a pc simulation of this but I get the same
answer whether the array is in rows or pseudo-random. I tried with
noise but I saw no reduction. I haven't tried adding a signal to the
noise in the simulation yet though...

A*s*i*m*o*v

.... Three types of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics - Mark Twain.

Plywood on a satellite?

73 Roger ZR3RC