This grant is to support the high resolution measurement of x and gamma rays from both the sun and supernova 1987a on two balloons which are to be launched from South Pole Station during the austral summer of 1989-1990. The work has several goals: 1) To study nucleosynthesis in the supernova. 2) To study electron and ion acceleration processes in solar flares. 3) To search for cosmic gamma ray bursts, cyclotron radiation and gravitationally red-shifted position annihilation lines. The detectors are large, liquid nitrogen cooled, segmented germanium crystals. They are actively shielded, and will provide high resolution measurements from 15 keV to several MeV. The balloon flights are expected to last for 5-20 days. It is hoped, but not required that the payloads can be recovered. This proposal is a precursor to the solar flare studies that are expected to be proposed as part of the MAX '91 campaign.
