Novel design for an all-sky low-energy gamma-ray observatory (ALLEGRO)

Melville P. Ulmer; David D. Dixon; Geoffrey N. Pendleton; William A. Wheaton; Steven M. Matz; John P. Finley; William R. Purcell; Rich Nyquist; John Jonaitis

doi:10.1117/12.366532

22 October 1999 Novel design for an all-sky low-energy gamma-ray observatory (ALLEGRO)

Melville P. Ulmer, David D. Dixon, Geoffrey N. Pendleton, William A. Wheaton, Steven M. Matz, John P. Finley, William R. Purcell, Rich Nyquist, John Jonaitis

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3765, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy X; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.366532
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1999, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

We present a novel concept for a MIDEX satellite mission that allows all sky coverage for gamma-ray bursts and hard x-ray transients. The multiscale alternating shadow collimator (MASC) alone allows for arc minute positioning of 1 second bursts 3 times weaker than the BATSE sensitivity. Our scientific objectives include the ability: (a) to detect and monitor thousands of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and hard x- ray sources with sensitivity 3-10 times better than BATSE; (b) to solve the gamma-ray burst mystery; (c) to use gamma- ray bursts as probes of cosmological star formation and to measure cosmological parameters; (d) to understand the physics of the high energy radiation from AGNs and BLAZARs; (e) to study the physics of matter in the extreme around black holes and neutron stars; (f) to determine the pulsar birth rate and physical characteristics. The mission concept, MASC concept, and simulations are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Melville P. Ulmer, David D. Dixon, Geoffrey N. Pendleton, William A. Wheaton, Steven M. Matz, John P. Finley, William R. Purcell, Rich Nyquist, and John Jonaitis "Novel design for an all-sky low-energy gamma-ray observatory (ALLEGRO)", Proc. SPIE 3765, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy X, (22 October 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.366532

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