Post on 22-Dec-2015
JRA3: Laboratory Astrophysics
Atomic & Nuclear
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Overview
• Coordinator JRA3: Wim Hermsen
• Two work packages:
• WP1: atomic physics (coordinators Ehud Behar & Jelle Kaastra)
• WP2: nuclear physics (coordinator Roland Diehl)
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WP1: Atomic Physics
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Atomic physics
• Different physical conditions and situations in astrophysical sources:
• Collisional ionisation versus Photoionisation
• Emission versus absorption spectra
• Foreground/Background emission and absorption from cold or ionised gas
• All probed by X-ray spectroscopy
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Current status
• For most processes, basics are understood• Accuracy & completeness of atomic data is
highly inhomogeneous• Robust estimates of physical parameters in
astrophysical sources often depends on subtleties of the atomic data
• Need for improved data & codes, to be obtained through calculations, experiments & code development
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Networking & education
• In addition to JRA3 research activities we propose:
• Annual workshops: comparing codes & models, exchanging of new ideas (50 k, incl travel)
• Combined with X-ray spectroscopy school (twice, @ 20 k each)
• Example: MSSL workshop & school 17-20 March 2009, see http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~ajb/workshop3/
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Activity: EBIT measurements of DR
• EBIT instrument @ TUB Berlin: measurements of dielectronic recombination
• Plot: DR measurements compared to HULLAC calculations; other processes also desirable (e.g. for Fe&Ni-K, @ calorimeter resolution)
• Needs: experimental postdoc @ TUB and computational postdoc @ Technion
• Prime contacts: Biedermann, Behar
DR of W, Biedermann et al. 2008
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Activity: further development Titan code
• Titan unique amongst photoionisation codes: best treatment radiative transfer
• Needs postdoc, support for further development
• Prime contacts: Goosman, Gonçalves, Dumont (Strasbourg & Paris) Gonçalves et al. (2006)
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Activity: lab measurements for warm absorbers
• Goal: measure inner-shell absorption structures through lab (e.g. laser) experiments
• Need support for equipment experiments (10 k/yr?) & theor. backup (0.5 postdoc)
• Contact: Gonçalves (Paris), Behar
Chenais-Popovic et al. 2000
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Activity: update atomic data SPEX
• Goal: improve atomic data in multi-tasking spectral analysis code SPEX (and others)
• Time-consuming,• Need 0.4 staff for
calculations, + support postdoc for maintenance/update code at SRON
• Contact: Kaastra, Raassen, Behar
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Activity: implementing atomic data into applications
• Chianti project computes/collects/compiles large database atomic data for astrophysics
• Data needs to be incorporated into astrophysical applications, e.g. SPEX
• Careful assessment and benchmarking / comparison codes (Cloudy, XSTAR, SPEX, etc.) needed
• Needs postdoc @ IoA/DAMTP • Contacts: Blustin, Fabian, Del Zanna
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Activity: update Fe-K diagnostics high-Z elements
• Recent computational work by group Palmeri et al. on Fe-K data
• Needs extension to other high-Z elements (Astro-H, IXO)
• Needs postdoc @ Mons
• Contact: Palmeri Palmeri et al. 2003, Fe-K
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WP2: Nuclear Physics
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Introduction
• Nuclear fusion reactions determine HE sources
• Nuclear properties needed to interpret γ-ray line intensities
• Nuclear interactions: key importance in instrumental backgrounds
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Nuclear physics ingredients
• Nuclear properties & cross section measurements in lab & theory
• Instrumental interaction simulation packages (GEANT), in-orbit radiation environment monitors & simulators
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Activity: stimulate HEA implementing nuclear physics
workshops & projectsCosmic HE source models• Extract nucleosynthesis yields from SN models (cc-SNe,
SNIa)• Extract HE continuum light curves versus nucl. energy
productions• Explore variations observable parameters for model
discriminations • Needs: infrastructure, travel money (~50-70 k€/y)Instrument simulations• Exploit nuclear physics experiments, theoretical models,
databases for isotope properties• Needs: 1 Postdoc (~100 k€/y)
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Activity: enhance manpower / resources for instrument
simulations through projects
• MGGPOD (Monte Carlo code) as part of GEANT: benchmarks for known materials, cmp. measurements
• Instrument-specific simulation package development & benchmarks (Compton telescopes, others)
• Needs 3 Postdocs + travel (~180 k€/y)
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Activity: enhance nucl-phys applications for HEA: nuclear
spectroscopy
• Benchmarks for spectroscopic analysis known source data
• Performance & analysis radioactive-source and γ-beam tests
• Exploration instrumental line suppression tools & algorithms
• Needs: 1 Postdoc + travel (~60 k€/y)
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Activity: establish space particle environment libs & tools for HEA
• Compile & extract space environment lib
• Exploit / extract available databases wrt. HE needs
• Establish background model lib for HE Instruments
• Needs: infrastructure, 1 Postdoc (~100 k€/y)
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Summary of requested annual budgets
• WP1: 475 k€/yr
• WP2: 500 k€/yr
• JRA3 total: 975 k€/yr
• Warning: these are all preliminary estimates!