Search results for "BURSTS"
showing 10 items of 76 documents
ESTREMO/WFXRT: Extreme phySics in the TRansient and Evolving COsmos
2006
We present a mission designed to address two main themes of the ESA Cosmic Vision Programme: the Evolution of the Universe and its Violent phenomena. ESTREMO/WFXRT is based on innovative instrumental and observational approaches, out of the mainstream of observatories of progressively increasing area, i.e.: Observing with fast reaction transient sources, like GRB, at their brightest levels, thus allowing high resolution spectroscopy. Observing and surveying through a X-ray telescope with a wide field of view and with high sensitivity extended sources, like cluster and Warm Hot Intragalactic Medium (WHIM). ESTREMO/WFXRT will rely on two cosmological probes: GRB and large scale X-ray structur…
GrailQuest and HERMES: hunting for gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts and probing space-time quantum foam
2021
GrailQuest (Gamma-ray Astronomy International Laboratory for Quantum Exploration of Space-Time) is an ambitious astrophysical mission concept that uses a fleet of small satellites whose main objective is to search for a dispersion law for light propagation in vacuo. Within Quantum Gravity theories, different models for space-time quantization predict relative discrepancies of the speed of photons w.r.t. the speed of light that depend on the ratio of the photon energy to the Planck energy. This ratio is as small as 10-23 for photons in the γ- ray band (100 keV). Therefore, to detect this effect, light must propagate over enormous distances and the experiment must have extraordinary sensitivi…
GrailQuest: hunting for atoms of space and time hidden in the wrinkle of Space-Time: A swarm of nano/micro/small-satellites to probe the ultimate str…
2021
AbstractGrailQuest(Gamma Ray Astronomy International Laboratory for QUantum Exploration of Space-Time) is a mission concept based on a constellation (hundreds/thousands) of nano/micro/small-satellites in low (or near) Earth orbits. Each satellite hosts a non-collimated array of scintillator crystals coupled with Silicon Drift Detectors with broad energy band coverage (keV-MeV range) and excellent temporal resolution (≤ 100 nanoseconds) each with effective area$\sim 100 \text {cm}^{2}$∼100cm2. This simple and robust design allows for mass-production of the satellites of the fleet. This revolutionary approach implies a huge reduction of costs, flexibility in the segmented launching strategy, …
BOOTES observation of GRB 080603B
2012
We report on multicolor photometry of long GRB080603B afterglow from BOOTES-1B and BOOTES-2. The optical afterglow has already been reported to present a break in the optical lightcurve at 0.12 ± 0.2 days after the trigger. We construct the lightcurve and the spectral energy distribution and discuss the nature of the afterglow.
The X‐ray emission of the supernova remnant W49B: indications of a jet‐like explosion
2007
We report on an XMM-Newton EPIC observation of the galactic supernova remnant W49B, which, on the basis of previous Chandra observations, has been supposed to be the first remnant of a gamma-ray burst discovered in our galaxy. We performed a spatially resolved spectral analysis, which revealed oversolar abundances of Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe. Moreover, a high overabundance of Ni is required in the bright central elongated region. Our results support a scenario where the remnant was generated by an asymmetric bipolar explosion where the eastern jet is hotter and more Fe-rich than the western one. An alternative interpretation which associates the X-ray emission with spherically symmetric ejecta…
On the existence of a reverse shock in magnetized gamma-ray burst ejecta
2007
The role of magnetic fields in gamma-ray burst (GRB) flows remains controversial. The study of the early afterglow phases and, in particular, of the reverse shock dynamics and associated emission offers a promising probe of the magnetization of the ejecta. In this paper, we derive the conditions for the existence of a reverse shock in arbitrarily magnetized ejecta that decelerate and interact with the circumburst medium. Both constant and wind-like density profiles are considered. We show, in contrast to previous estimates, that ejecta with magnetization σ0 >∼ 1 are not crossed by a reverse shock for a large fraction of the parameter space relevant to GRB flows. Allowing for shell spreading…
The ARGO-YBJ experiment in Tibet
2008
The setting up of the ARGO detector at the YangBaJing Cosmic Ray Laboratory (4300 m a.s.l., Tibet, P.R. China) has been completed during the last spring (2007). It consists of a central carpet made of 130 identical sub-units of 12 RPCs each (a "cluster"), covering a surface of about 5800 m2 with 93% active area, and a guard ring of 24 further clusters of the same type surrounding the central carpet with a lower sampling density. Signals are picked up by external electrodes of small size, thus allowing the sampling of EAS with high space-time granularity. Shower events are detected at a trigger rate of about 4 kHz. Events with a few particles detected by a single cluster are counted in scale…
Simbol-X Mirror Module Thermal Shields: II-Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Measurements
2009
The formation flight configuration of the Simbol-X mission implies that the X-ray mirror module will be open to Space on both ends. In order to reduce the power required to maintain the thermal stability and, therefore, the high angular resolution of the shell optics, a thin foil thermal shield will cover the mirror module. Different options are presently being studied for the foil material of these shields. We report results of an experimental investigation conducted to verify that the scattering of X-rays, by interaction with the thin foil material of the thermal shield, will not significantly affect the performances of the telescope.
Detection of the high z GRB 080913 and its implications on progenitors and energy extraction mechanisms*
2010
We present multiwavelength observations of one of the most distant gamma-ray bursts detected so far, GRB080913. Based on these observations, we consider whether it could be classified as a short-duration GRB and discuss the implications for the progenitor nature and energy extraction mechanisms. Methods. Multiwavelength X-ray, near IR and millimetre observations were made between 20.7 h and ∼16.8 days after the event. Results. Whereas a very faint afterglow was seen at the 3.5m CAHA telescope in the nIR, the X-ray afterglow was clearly detected in both Swift and XMM-Newton observations. An upper limit is reported in the mm range. We have modeled the data assuming a collimated θ0 3◦ blast wa…
Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory for the observation of early photons from gamma-ray bursts
2013
One of the least documented and understood aspects of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is the rise phase of the optical light curve. The Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) is an effort to address this question through extraordinary opportunities presented by a series of space missions including a small spacecraft observatory. The UFFO is equipped with a fast-response Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) that uses a rapidly moving mirror or mirror array to redirect the optical beam rather than slewing the entire spacecraft to aim the optical instrument at the GRB position. The UFFO will probe the early optical rise of GRBs with sub-second response, for the first time, opening a completely new frontier in …