Gamma Ray Energy Tracking Apparatus

Message from the GRETA Steering Committee Welcome to the first GRETA newsletter! In it we hope to inform you of the current status of GRETA, tell you about some of the significant recent happenings, and take a peep into the future of the project. We hope to keep you updated on a regular basis but don't forget to visit the official GRETA homepage at http://greta.lbl.gov/ once in a while for more complete details. Certainly we were all overjoyed with the strong support given to GRETA in the 2002 NSAC Long Range Plan. The latter combined with positive results from the Gamma-Ray Tracking Coordination Committee have led to the first 3-cluster module being ordered this past November from Canberra Eurysis, with a delivery date in late 2003. Exciting work is also continuing on other fronts, such as digital electronics development, and further tests of the 36-fold segmented prototype, see below. Another very important development is that we are presently preparing (with your help!) a proposal to DOE for "GRETINA", which would consist of a quarter shell of GRETA. Such a system would be very powerful and compact allowing it to attack a broad range of important physics questions. If the proposal (and future R&D) is successful, construction of GRETINA could begin in 2005, with completion in 2008. Obviously this is a key milestone on route to the full 4pi GRETA system. We hope you enjoy reading the Newsletter and please don't forget that anyone interested in gamma-ray tracking and GRETA is welcome to join the GRETA Users Community. Also don't hesitate to contact us if you have any suggestions or concerns about any aspect of the project.