COCOA: A compact Compton camera for astrophysical observation of MeV-scale gamma rays

Soleti, S. R.; Gómez-Cadenas, J. J.; Apilluelo, J.; Asquith, L.; Bannister, E. F.; Barradas, N. P.; Baylis, C. L.; Beney, J. L.; E Santos, M. Berberan; De La Bernardie, X.; Bezerra, T. J. C.; Bongrand, M.; Bourgeois, C.; Breton, D.; Busto, J.; Burns, K.; Cabrera, A.; Cadiou, A.; Calvo, E.; De Carlos Generowicz, M.; Chauveau, E.; Cattermole, B. J.; Chen, M.; Chimenti, P.; Cowen, D. F.; Das, S. Kr.; Dusini, S.; Earle, A.; Felizardo, M.; Martins, C. Frigerio; Galán, J.; García, J. A.; Gazzini, R.; Gibson-Foster, A.; Girard-Carillo, C.; Griffith, W. C.; Guitière, M.; Haddad, F.; Hartnell, J.; Holin, A.; Irastorza, I. G.; Jovanovic, I.; Kling, A.; Koch, L.; Lasorak, P.; Le Du, J. F.; Lefevre, F.; Loaiza, P.; Lock, J. A.; Luzón, G.; Maalmi, J.; Malhado, J. P.; Mantovani, F.; Marques, J. G.; Marquet, C.; Martínez, M.; Navas-Nicolás, D.; Nunokawa, H.; Ochoa-Ricoux, J. P.; Palmeira, T.; Palomares, C.; Petyt, D.; Pillot, P.; Pin, A.; Porter, J. C. C.; Pravikoff, M. S.; Richards, S.; Rodrigues, N.; Roche, M.; Rosero, R.; Roskovec, B.; Roy, N.; Sarsa, M. L.; Serafini, A.; Shepherd-Themistocleous, C.; Shorrock, W.; Silva, M.; Simard, L.; Stocco, D.; Strati, V.; Stutzmann, J. S.; Suekane, F.; Tuccori, N.; Verdugo, A.; Viaud, B.; Wakely, S. M.; Wendel, G.; Wilhelm, A. S.; Wong, A. W. R.; Yeh, M.; Yermia, F.

doi:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2025.103135

COCOA (COmpact COmpton cAmera) is a next-generation gamma-ray telescope designed for astrophysical observations in the MeV energy range. The detector comprises a scatterer volume employing the LiquidO detection technology and an array of scintillating crystals acting as absorber. Surrounding plastic scintillator panels serve as a veto system for charged particles. The detector's compact, scalable design enables flexible deployment on microsatellites or high-altitude balloons. Gamma rays at MeV energies have not been well explored historically (the so-called “MeV gap”) and COCOA has the potential to improve the sensitivity in this energy band.