Wilson-Hodge, CA;
Ray, PS;
Chakrabarty, D;
Feroci, M;
Alvarez, L;
Baysinger, M;
Becker, C;
... Zane, S; + view all
(2016)
Large Observatory for x-ray Timing (LOFT-P): A Probe-class mission concept study.
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
, 9905
, Article 99054Y. 10.1117/12.2232944.
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Abstract
LOFT-P is a mission concept for a NASA Astrophysics Probe-Class (<$1B) X-ray timing mission, based on the LOFT M-class concept originally proposed to ESAs M3 and M4 calls. LOFT-P requires very large collecting area, high time resolution, good spectral resolution, broad-band spectral coverage (2-30 keV), highly flexible scheduling, and an ability to detect and respond promptly to time-critical targets of opportunity. It addresses science questions such as: What is the equation of state of ultra dense matter? What are the effects of strong gravity on matter spiraling into black holes? It would be optimized for sub-millisecond timing of bright Galactic X-ray sources including X-ray bursters, black hole binaries, and magnetars to study phenomena at the natural timescales of neutron star surfaces and black hole event horizons and to measure mass and spin of black holes. These measurements are synergistic to imaging and high-resolution spectroscopy instruments, addressing much smaller distance scales than are possible without very long baseline X-ray interferometry, and using complementary techniques to address the geometry and dynamics of emission regions. LOFT-P would have an effective area of >6 m2, > 10x that of the highly successful Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). A sky monitor (2-50 keV) acts as a trigger for pointed observations, providing high duty cycle, high time resolution monitoring of the X-ray sky with ∼20 times the sensitivity of the RXTE All-Sky Monitor, enabling multi-wavelength and multimessenger studies. A probe-class mission concept would employ lightweight collimator technology and large-area solid-state detectors, segmented into pixels or strips, technologies which have been recently greatly advanced during the ESA M3 Phase A study of LOFT. Given the large community interested in LOFT (>800 supporters∗, the scientific productivity of this mission is expected to be very high, similar to or greater than RXTE (∼ 2000 refereed publications). We describe the results of a study, recently completed by the MSFC Advanced Concepts Office, that demonstrates that such a mission is feasible within a NASA probe-class mission budget.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Large Observatory for x-ray Timing (LOFT-P): A Probe-class mission concept study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1117/12.2232944 |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.1117/12.2232944 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2016 SPIE. Copyright 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. |
| Keywords: | Neutron Stars, Black Holes, X-ray Timing, Silicon Drift Detectors, Mission Concepts |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1508121 |
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