Paper
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 +
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.
© (1999) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
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
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Collimators

Gamma radiation

Sensors

X-rays

Modulation

Spherical lenses

Galactic astronomy

RELATED CONTENT

The Large Observatory for x-ray timing
Proceedings of SPIE (July 31 2014)
Modular rotating collimator imaging x-ray spectrometer
Proceedings of SPIE (October 08 1992)
Hard x ray and gamma ray imaging spectroscopy for the...
Proceedings of SPIE (November 01 1990)
Imaging with RHESSI
Proceedings of SPIE (February 11 2003)
BASIS a new gamma ray burst imaging and spectroscopy...
Proceedings of SPIE (September 01 1995)
LOFT: the Large Observatory For X-ray Timing
Proceedings of SPIE (September 25 2012)

Back to Top