Thesis

Future Space Telescopes in the Multi-Messenger Era

• Call:

  IDPASC Portugal - PHD Programme 2019

• Academic Year:

  2019 / 2020

• Domains:

  Experimental Particle Physics | Astrophysics

• Supervisor:

  Rui Curado da Silva

• Co-Supervisor:

  Jorge Maia

• Institution:

  Universidade de Coimbra

• Host Institution:

  Laboratório de Instrumentação e Física Experimental de Partículas

• Abstract:

  In the Multi-Messenger Era, the simultaneous localization and characterization of Gravitational Waves and Gamma-Ray Bursts require all-sky, time-domain and polarimetric observation capabilities, as well as increased sensitivity [1]. In the framework of ESA and NASA missions, i-Astro group will develop innovative high-energy astrophysics space mission concepts in 2 alternative platforms: 1) ESA F call selected for phase 2 study, All-Sky-ASTROGAM is a small size class mission that will provide one order of magnitude better observational sensitivity due to its innovative Si tracker and CsI calorimeter without passive elements and to its all-sky capabilities. It will provide Compton and pair production polarimetry [2]. The P.I., De Angelis, is LIP and i-Astro External Collaborator; 2) AMEGO is a NASA and european mission proposal (AMEGO team: https://asd.gsfc.nasa.gov/amego/team.html ) [3]. It will be submitted to large size Probe-Class NASA call. Its larger Si tracker and CsI/CZT calorimeter instrument should provide better sensitivity by two orders of magnitude and polarimetric sensitivity up to 50 MeV; The selected PhD student will participate in the design, development and experimental characterization of the main instruments of these mission concepts, based on Si trackers, and CZT and CsI calorimeters. He should perform a complete study of the spectroscopic and polarimetric sensitivity of the main instrument by mass model Monte Carlo simulation, using MEGAlib [4] dedicated program based on GEANT4. The student will study particularly the polarimetric sensitivity of these instruments in the pair production regime, since this capability should offer an outstanding knew knowledge window in high-energy astrophysics. He will participate in the development of prototypes for laboratorial testing and, possibly, in high-altitude balloon testing at Esrange Space Center, Sweden, and/or at NASA facilities in Palestine, Texas. A higher level of participation in 1) All-Sky-Astrogam or in 2) AMEGO will depend of the selection of All-Sky-Astrogam for launch in 2020. In case All-Sky-Astrogam will not be selected, the research performed should be focused in AMEGO mission. [1] De Angelis, (…), Rui Silva et al., The e-ASTROGAM mission: Exploring the extreme Universe with gamma rays in the MeV - GeV range, Exp Astron., 2017, 44, 1, 25. [2] All-Sky-ASTROGAM, Proposal for ESA F Mission Programme, http://coimbra.lip.pt/~rcsilva/AllSkyASTROGAMSubmitted25202018.pdf [3] A. Moiseev et al., All-Sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory (AMEGO), ICRC2017, PoS, 301, 798. [4] “MEGAlib – The Medium Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy Library”, Andreas Zoglauer et al., New Astronomy Reviews 50 (2006) 629–632.