Filippo FronteraFilippo Fronteraon behalf of on behalf of

the Ferrara High Energy Astrophysics Groupthe Ferrara High Energy Astrophysics Group

High energy astrophysics: on-going High energy astrophysics: on-going research activities research activities

Lavori in corso a Fisica, 5 Dic 2012Lavori in corso a Fisica, 5 Dic 2012

Group members

• Physics Department• FF, Lev Titarchuk, Cristiano Guidorzi, Ruben

Farinelli, Enrico Virgilli. PhD students: Vincenzo Liccardo, Disha Sawant, Vineeth Valsan, Caterina Lombardi

• INAF-IASF Bologna• Lorenzo Amati, Mauro Orlandini, Ezio Caroli,

Nicola Masetti, Luciano Nicastro, Loredana Bassani, Claudio Labanti.

• Experimental activity: Experimental activity: • LAUE projectLAUE project• Feasibility studies of missions (GAME, Broad-Feasibility studies of missions (GAME, Broad-

Band)Band)• Involvement in future missions: HXMT (Chinese Involvement in future missions: HXMT (Chinese

misssion)misssion)

• Observational activity (even in large Observational activity (even in large international collaborations) :international collaborations) :• Study of compact objects Study of compact objects • Study of Gamma-Ray Bursts Study of Gamma-Ray Bursts

• Theoretical activity on GRBs and Compact Theoretical activity on GRBs and Compact objectsobjects

OverviewOverview

FFocusing of soft gamma-rays (>70/100 keV) for ocusing of soft gamma-rays (>70/100 keV) for astrophysicsastrophysics

GOALGOAL::

• To develop a technology for To develop a technology for building a lens made of crystalsbuilding a lens made of crystals

Why to focus gamma-rays from celestial sources? 1/2

Cyg X-1 soft state

Her X-1 low ON

400 keV

Blazar

Seyfert 2 vs. QSO

• Diffuse annihilation line emission discovered with INTEGRAL (integrated flux: 1.7x10-3 ph/cm2 s).

• Origin still unknown. • Several models proposed:

• Dark matter;• Antimatter• Source of radioactive elements

like 26Al, 56Co, 44Ti• Gamma Source (e.g., Pulsar)• BH Binaries

• More sensitivity and imaging capability needed.

Why to focus soft gamma-rays from celestial sources 2/2

Weidenspointner+2008

Technology for building Laue lenses with short focal length (>10 m): already

developed

Virgilli et al. 2011Frontera et al. 2008

Prototype test results

1st prototype 2nd prototype

Laue Project

• Laue Consortium: – UNIFE (two groups), – INAF/IASF-Bologna, – CNR/IMEM-Parma; – DTM-Modena, – TAS I-Milan and Turin.

• Main goals:– To develop a technology to

build a lens with long focal length (>10 m)

– To make use of curved crystals for a better focusing and sensitivity.

Apparatus for lens petal assembling and testing 1/2

Apparatus for lens petal assembling and testing 2/2

Experimental thesis opportunities

• 1 experimental thesis devoted to the lens building phase (crystal qualification measurements, crystal positioning measurements);

• 1 experimental thesis devoted to the lens testing phase.

• 1 thesis devoted to s/w development (in LabView) for managing the building phase

Compact sources: theory and observationsCompact sources: theory and observations

Goals:Goals: Radiative processes in accretion disks around Neutron Stars Radiative processes in accretion disks around Neutron Stars

and Black Holesand Black Holes Distinguishing BH from NSDistinguishing BH from NS Measuring the mass of BHs in binary systems and that of Measuring the mass of BHs in binary systems and that of

massive BHs in AGNsmassive BHs in AGNs

Gamma Ray Bursts: theory and observationsGamma Ray Bursts: theory and observations

The Brightest and furthest events in the Universe ever discovered!The Brightest and furthest events in the Universe ever discovered!

PRIN-MIUR project (national collaboration):PRIN-MIUR project (national collaboration): Spectral and temporal studiesSpectral and temporal studies Origin of spectral-energy correlationsOrigin of spectral-energy correlations Cosmology with GRBsCosmology with GRBs

Also international collaborations (e.g., Also international collaborations (e.g., Liverpool JM University, UK)Liverpool JM University, UK)

Observational/theoretical thesis opportunities

• Data analysis of observations of compact sources in binary systems for distinguishing BH from NS and/or BH mass estimate.

• Model development for interpreting short time variability in GRBs.