LXO KickOff Meeting Agenda 1 2 3 4
- Slides: 8
LXO Kick-Off Meeting Agenda: 1) 2) 3) 4) Introduction (this talk) Solar System science with X-rays Basic Feasibility Study Round-table discussion Steve: 10 min Mark: 10 min Jenny: 10 min ~ 1. 5 hours (? ) LXO stands for Lunar X-ray Observatory, but this is only a placeholder name. Location on the moon has logistical and political advantages – but is not a necessary requirement. Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
Primary Science Goal: study of SWCX mechanism A Lunar X-ray Observatory properly placed on the Moon will observe soft X-ray emission from the interaction of the solar wind with both the magnetosheath and the lunar atmosphere. Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
LXO: example configuration: Simple collimated device Basic Constraints based on ALSEP experience: Mass < 40 kg Power < 75 W • Mass < 40 kg (self-contained power system, i. e. solar cells + battery) • Mass < 20 kg (external PSU common to multiple experiments) • Power < 70 W if actively cooled with Thermal Electric Cooler (TEC) • Power < 20 -30 W if passively cooled and operated during lunar night. Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
A model of the X-ray background (black), the magnetosheath (SWCX) (red), and the SWCX emission from the lunar atmosphere (green). All have similar strengths and spectral shape. A collimated device will be able to separate the components only by looking at time variability of the components. Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
Lunar atmosphere contribution…. Simulation of the soft X-ray emission as a function of Position in the lunar sky. (Trávniček et al. 2005) Suggests optimum location to provide greatest contrast is polar position with view zenith angle ~ 900 Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
Magnetosheath contribution…. Magnetosheath Imaged! A model of the strength of the magnetospheric SWCX emission as a function of position around the Earth (at origin) (Robertson & Cravens 2003). This is NOT a static picture: soft X-ray imaging can be used to study the dynamical interaction between the magnetosheath and the solar wind. Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
Technical Requirements Wish List: • • Imaging capability • FOV ~ 30 degrees • Angular Resolution ~ 1. 5 arcminutes • Detector pixel size ~ 200 microns Soft X-ray response (0. 2 – 1. 5 ke. V) • CCD quality energy resolution or better Large Area Detector • ~ 20 cm x 20 cm “Moderate” timing capability Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
R = 100 cm FOV = 30° D = ~26 cm! Steve Sembay (sfs 5@star. le. ac. uk) LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX
