Main lessons from the SIGMA mission for the future of hard x-ray and soft gamma-ray astronomy

Francois Lebrun; Jaques Paul

doi:10.1117/12.130677

8 October 1992 Main lessons from the SIGMA mission for the future of hard x-ray and soft gamma-ray astronomy

Francois Lebrun, Jaques Paul

Proceedings Volume 1743, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy III; (1992) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.130677
Event: San Diego '92, 1992, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The hard X-ray/soft gamma-ray telescope SIGMA has been successfully operating for more than two years aboard the soviet spacecraft GRANAT. This paper is intended to give a report of the most important technical as well as astrophysical inferences which have been obtained from this mission. From these, the mandatory capabilities of a future mission with their relative priorities can be drawn. The most important ones are (1) simultaneous spectral and imaging capabilities, (2) a wide field of view, and (3) a better sensitivity at 0.5 MeV. A sketch of a possible future satellite experiment fulfilling these requirements is given. It is a spectral imager in the sense that priority is given to the angular resolution in comparison with the spectral resolution. Its field of view (360 degree(s) X 10 degree(s)) enables continuous monitoring of the galactic plane emission, involving no cooling, no mechanics, and a coarse stabilization, it should be very reliable, thus allowing a long duration mission. A highly eccentric orbit of the same type as that of GRANAT would be the most efficient.

Citation Download Citation

Francois Lebrun and Jaques Paul "Main lessons from the SIGMA mission for the future of hard x-ray and soft gamma-ray astronomy", Proc. SPIE 1743, EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy III, (8 October 1992); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.130677

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