Contratto ASI/Luna

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Contratto ASI/Luna

• Astrofisica delle Alte Energie

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The observation and study of the Universe
requires coordinated, if possible, contemporary
observations in different windows of the
Electromagnetic Spectrum
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The lack of atmosphere renders the Moon surface
an appealing location for X and Gamma-ray
telescopes.
However, to be competitive with the space
instruments already in operations, we need large
X and gamma-ray telescopes that are far too big
to be considered for space operations.
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However, instruments do not perform better on the
Moon. Thus, to be competitive with the space
instruments already in operations, we need large
X and gamma-ray telescopes that are far too big
to be considered for space operations.
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The four Telescopes we have selected to explore
the Universe in the energy band few keV, many
GeV, are transit instruments with no specific
pointing requirements, (the sources will cross
the instruments field of view at 0.5/h at the
Equator).
Placing the instruments on the Moon equatorial
region would allow an even coverage of the sky
and ease the communications.
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Requirements for the Lunar AO gtgt Four
Instruments to explore the Sky in the few keV-
many GeV energy band gtgt The Instruments are not
pointed but only aligned to a selected region of
the sky, the sources will drift in the FOV.
gtgt All the pointings will be possible (when the
Sun is not in the FOV) gtgt 27 terrestrial days
(one Lunar rotation) continuous
observation. gtgtHigh bit-rate communication
with Earth. gtgtPossibility to build the
Observatory via a modular approach,
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        ASRI All Sky X-ray Imager Energy
Range 0.5-60 KeV2 Detectors 0.5-15 KeV,
5-60 KeVFoV 30 arcminAngular Resolution
10 (5) arcsecEnergy Resolution ?E/E
200Time resolution no stringent requirements
 
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Scientific Objectives
to survey the sky in the 1-60 KeV energy band at
flux levels much fainter than any survey has
reached so far. One million sources reaching
redshift Zgt4 for an area of 1000 square degrees.

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Mirrors and Detectors will be mounted into two
separate units which will be placed in the proper
position by a robotic system.
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Formation Flying for Astrophysics
SIMBOL-X An X Ray Mission
0,5keV 70 to 80keV
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Possible mirrors configurations

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SPACE COMPETITORS
eROSITA
XEUS
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TIGRETiming Italian Gamma Ray Experiment

• Energy Range 1-20 keV Timing only,
• 1-10 keV Imaging and Timing
• FoV Timing only half sky,
• Slit collimator 1 x 60,
• Collimator and Mask 60x 60
• Total Geometric Area 100 modules of 1 m2 100
  m2
• Time resolution 10 µs
•  

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Scientific Objectives
Detailed study of individual cycles of Quasi
Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in Galactic
binaries Survey of X-ray pulsars Temporal
variability and quasi-periodicity during the
prompt phase of gamma-ray bursts High resolution
timing study of bursts from magnetars
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SPACE COMPETITORS
RXTE will stop in 1-2 y.
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GRIMGamma Ray IMager

• Energy Range 0.03-1 MeV,
• up to 10 MeV in 2 p mode
• FoV 4 x 4 , 33 x 33
• Angular resolution 0.7-7 arcmin
• Energy resolution 1 _at_100 keV
• 0.5 _at_511 keV
• Total Geometric Area 9 m2
• Time resolution 5 µs
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Scientific Objectives
Obscured sources, Black Holes Physics Neutron
Star Physics and Transient Phenomena GC
Supermassive BH Supermassive Black Holes in AGNs
GRB to probe the far Universe
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GRIM
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GRIM
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SPACE COMPETITORS
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PIMPlastic Imager on the Moon

• Energy Range 50- MeV 200 GeV
• FoV 3 sr.
• Angular resolution few arcmin
• Energy resolution lt 10
• Total Geometric Area gtgt 1 m2
• Time resolution tenth of nsec
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Scientific Objectives

• Gamma-Ray Burst
• Galactic sources studies (all classes)
• Diffuse emission from the Milky Way
• Blazar and Active Galactic Nuclei
• Isotropic diffuse emission
• Test of Quantum gravity models

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PIMTraker and Calorimeter configuration
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SPACE COMPETITORS
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The four telescopes are very big, they cannot
be sent to the Moon in just one flight unless a
system like the one in the NASA ESAS study is
available .
35 Ton 10 Ton 10 Ton

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CONCLUSIONS
X and gamma-ray astronomy could blossom on the
Moon surface. However, the flight opportunity of
2011 and 2012 is not suitable for the ambitious
goals we have set for the Lunar A.O.
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CONCLUSIONS
In view of the space competitors, it makes no
sense to propose a small payload for the first
flight opportunity. A Payload in the 80 kg. range
can accommodate only a test instrument or a
technological demonstrator. Such a small
instrument could provide useful information for
the detailed design of the future BIG
TELESCOPES.
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CONCLUSIONS

• The 2012 opportunity could be used to fly to the
  Moon a small instrument to get the best possible
  information on one of the critical lunar
  parameter like the Dust, the Micrometeorites, the
  Temperature excursions of the Telescopes
  components, the total Radiation. All those inputs
  will be needed when the Big Telescope time will
  arrive.