NASA Selects Gamma-Ray Mission to Explore Positron Sources, Supernovae – Sky & Telescope
[ad_1]
University of Berkeley / COSI
NASA announced this week that it has selected the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) gamma-ray telescope, led by John Tomsick (University of California, Berkeley), for development as part of its Small Explorer (SMEX) program. The mission will cost approximately $145 million, excluding launch carrier.
With an expected launch date in 2025, COSI will study the recent history of star birth, star death, and the formation of chemical elements in the Milky Way. To accomplish this, the observatory will look at galactic sources producing gamma-ray energies between 0.2 and 5 million electron-volts (0.2–5 MeV).
COSI will be the first gamma-ray telescope mission designed to catch the annihilation of positrons, the anti-matter version of electrons. What’s more, the telescope will have the resolution to pinpoint where these particles come from. Since the 1970s, astronomers have seen gamma-ray emission attributed to positrons coming from the galactic center region, but their source(s) are still mysterious.
The mission will also probe the formation and decay of heavier elements revealed in cataclysmic supernovae. In addition, the observatory will pinpoint gamma-ray counterparts to exotic sources across the sky, including supernovae, blazars, and merging neutron stars producing gravitational waves.
“COSI will fly after the next upgrade to the gravitational wave detectors, so we are expecting to see larger numbers of events where gravitational waves and gamma-rays are detected,” says Tomsick.
Designing the Detector
Gamma rays are high-energy photons that are difficult to detect and focus, but they shed light on some of the most energetic processes in the universe. COSI’s design offers improvements in spectral and angular resolution, all-sky coverage, and increased sensitivity at gamma-ray wavelengths versus previous observatories.
Because Earth’s atmosphere absorbs gamma-rays, gamma-ray astronomy must be done from either high-altitude balloons or space. So as part of the mission’s development, the team constructed a balloon-borne version of COSI as a proof of concept. The team launched the telescope payload aboard NASA’s Superpressure Balloon from the Wanaka, New Zealand site in May 2016. (It was aloft nearly 47 days, a record for a mid-altitude, large scientific research balloon.)
University of Berkeley / COSI
University of Berkeley/COSI/Scott Battion
“COSI is a Compton telescope, a type of telescope that observes what’s known as Compton scattering, and its operation is very different from an optical or even an X-ray telescope,” says Tomsick.
Compton scattering gets its name from gamma-ray researcher and pioneer Arthur Compton, who realized that when a gamma-ray photon interacts with a charged particle like an electron, the photon gives up some of its energy to the electron. By tracking the scatter pattern of a gamma ray in the detector, researchers can figure out where it came from, roughly speaking.
“The Compton scattering angle defines a circle on the sky,” explains Tomsick. “Once you have hundreds or thousands of gamma-rays, the sources [they’re coming from] show up in the sky because the circles overlap at the locations of the sources.”
University of California, Berkeley / COSI
The name Compton crops up often in high-energy astrophysics. COSI shares it with the Compton Gamma-Ray observatory, which operated at 0.02 MeV to 30 GeV and was in Earth orbit from 1991 to 2000. The observatory had an instrument named COMPTEL that acted similarly to COSI, but COSI will feature a field of view four times larger, with angular resolution twice as sharp and energy resolution 20 times better. COSI will also cover the crucial 511 keV electron-positron annihilation line.
Currently, NASA has two other orbiting gamma-ray observatories in operation, the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
This week’s selection comes as another SMEX mission is readied for launch: the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), due to lift off from the Cape on December 9th atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
COSI was one of four mission concepts in the running for the last round of selections. Two others were the Large Area burst Polarimeter (LEAP) and the Gravitational-wave Ultraviolet Imager, both of which would have been mounted aboard the International Space Station. The final runner-up was the Extreme-ultraviolet Stellar Characterization for Atmospheric Physics and Evolution (ESCAPE) mission.
SMEX alumni include missions such as the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) and the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR).
It will be exciting to see what COSI reveals about the gamma-ray universe.
[ad_2]
Original Post
What i do not realize is actually how you’re not really a lot more neatly-preferred than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably when it comes to this topic, made me in my view consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested unless it¦s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!
I found your blog web site on google and test a number of of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the superb operate. I just further up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Searching for forward to studying extra from you later on!…
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site 🙂
great put up, very informative. I’m wondering why the opposite specialists of this sector do not understand this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
Hello, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent blog!
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Simply want to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness for your put up is simply cool and that i can suppose you are a professional on this subject. Well along with your permission allow me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay updated with coming near near post. Thanks a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
Very interesting topic, thankyou for posting. “If you have both feet planted on level ground, then the university has failed you.” by Robert F. Goheen.
Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Magnificent. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
I think this is among the most important info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
Thanks for helping out, excellent information.
I?¦ll immediately take hold of your rss feed as I can not find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me recognise in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Some really fantastic work on behalf of the owner of this web site, utterly outstanding written content.
The following time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could repair for those who werent too busy in search of attention.
Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my site something like that. Can I take a fragment of your post to my site?
What i do not realize is in fact how you are now not really much more smartly-preferred than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably when it comes to this subject, produced me individually consider it from a lot of various angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated until it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. At all times care for it up!
You have brought up a very good details , thankyou for the post.
I like this weblog its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google .
I just like the valuable info you supply for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test again here regularly. I’m rather certain I will learn plenty of new stuff right right here! Good luck for the following!
Its fantastic as your other blog posts : D, thanks for posting.
There are definitely quite a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That may be a nice level to deliver up. I supply the ideas above as common inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you convey up the place crucial thing shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both boys and girls feel the influence of only a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
I will right away grasp your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me recognize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
You are a very capable person!
Very interesting details you have noted, regards for posting. “Pleasure and love are the pinions of great deeds.” by Charles Fox.
hello there and thanks for your information – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from proper here. I did on the other hand experience some technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the website many instances previous to I may just get it to load correctly. I were considering in case your hosting is OK? Now not that I am complaining, however sluggish loading circumstances times will often impact your placement in google and could damage your quality score if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for a lot extra of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this once more soon..
Good site! I truly love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I’m wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your feed which must do the trick! Have a great day!
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you
I really like studying and I believe this website got some genuinely useful stuff on it! .
You are a very capable person!
You made a few good points there. I did a search on the topic and found the majority of persons will agree with your blog.
Good write-up, I am normal visitor of one¦s web site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
It is in reality a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?
This really answered my problem, thank you!
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A few of my blog audience have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any advice to help fix this issue?
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!