TSUBAME: toward the Frontier of X-ray/Gamma-ray Polarimetry in Astronomy

Takahiro TOIZUMI; Jun KATAOKA; Yoshihiro TSUBUKU; Mitsuyoshi KOBAYASHI; Yoichi YATSU; Makoto ARIMOTO; Takashi SHIMOKAWABE; Nobuyuki KAWAI; Kuniyuki OMAGARI; Ken FUJIWARA; Hiroki ASHIDA; Junichi NISHIDA; Kota FUJIHASHI; Shinich INAGAWA; Yoshiyuki MIURA; Saburo MATSUNAGA

doi:10.2322/tstj.7.Tm_31

m) Scientific Observations and Related Technologies

TSUBAME: toward the Frontier of X-ray/Gamma-ray Polarimetry in Astronomy

Takahiro TOIZUMI, Jun KATAOKA, Yoshihiro TSUBUKU, Mitsuyoshi KOBAYASHI, Yoichi YATSU, Makoto ARIMOTO, Takashi SHIMOKAWABE, Nobuyuki KAWAI, Kuniyuki OMAGARI, Ken FUJIWARA, Hiroki ASHIDA, Junichi NISHIDA, Kota FUJIHASHI, Shinich INAGAWA, Yoshiyuki MIURA, Saburo MATSUNAGA

Author information

Takahiro TOIZUMI
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Jun KATAOKA
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoshihiro TSUBUKU
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Mitsuyoshi KOBAYASHI
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoichi YATSU
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Makoto ARIMOTO
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Takashi SHIMOKAWABE
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Nobuyuki KAWAI
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kuniyuki OMAGARI
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Ken FUJIWARA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Hiroki ASHIDA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Junichi NISHIDA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Kota FUJIHASHI
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Shinich INAGAWA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoshiyuki MIURA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Saburo MATSUNAGA
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Keywords: Gamma-ray Bursts, X-ray Polarimetry, High-Energy Astronomy

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2009 Volume 7 Issue ists26 Pages Tm_31-Tm_35

DOI https://doi.org/10.2322/tstj.7.Tm_31

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Abstract

“TSUBAME” is a university-built small satellite mission to measure polarization of hard X-ray photons (30-200 keV) from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) using azimuthal anisotropy of Compton-scattered photons. Polarimetry in the hard X-ray and soft γ-ray bands should provide crucial information for understanding the high-energy emission mechanisms and the distribution of magnetic fields and radiation fields in the astrophysical sources. TSUBAME has two instruments: the Wide-field Burst Monitor (WBM) and the Hard X-ray Compton Polarimeter (HXCP). The WBM determines on board the direction of the burst occurrence with an accuracy of 10 degrees, then using a high speed attitude control device, the HXCP is pointed to the GRB within 15 seconds after the burst occurrence to promptly detect polarized X-ray photons from the GRB. We present an overview of the TSUBAME mission, its estimated scientific capability for detecting GRBs and measuring their X-ray polarization, development of multi-anode photomultiplier tubes that use ultra bi-alkali photocathodes, and the future plans of this mission.

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