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Athena’s view of the solar systemG. Branduardi-Raymont

Mullard Space Science LaboratoryUniversity College London

UK Athena Science workshopChicheley Hall, 27 January 2012

UCL

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XMM-Newton – Nov. 2003: EPIC

FeXVII (0.70–0.75, 0.80–0.85) MgXI (1.30–1.40 keV)

OVII (0.55–0.60 keV) OVIII (0.63–0.68 keV)

Jupiter

B-R et al. 2007

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0.2– 1 keV 1 – 3 keV

3 – 5 keV 5 – 10 keV

XMM-Newton – Nov. 2003: EPICJupiter

B-R et al. 2007

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North

South

Disk coronal spectrum

Auroral and disk spectra

XMM-Newton – Nov. 2003: EPICJupiter

OVII by CX

Electron bremsstrahlung

B-R et al. 2007

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JupiterXMM RGSresolves disk from auroral CX emission lines

Ion velocities ����ion energies

Athena-XMS wider

energy range &higher sensitivity resolve CX ions much more clearly ���� ions

origin

Faster and more precise ion energy samples

XMM RGS200 ks

exposure

B-R et al. 2007

Athena-XMS100 ks

simulation

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Jupiter XMS spectrum 10 – 40 A

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Where are Saturn’s X-ray aurorae?

• Disk and polar cap X-rays have coronal-type spectra

Chandra ACIS

Bhardwaj et al. 2005a

• 0.53 keV O-Kαααα fluorescent line from scattering of solar X-rays on atomic oxygen in H2O icy ring material

Bhardwaj et al. 2005b

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XMM-Newton EPIC84 ks exposure

Athena XMS 100 ks simulation

Saturn

B-R et al. 2010

XMM-Newton EPICseparates disk and ringspectrally

Athena XMSresolves disk coronal linesfromring X-ray line

���� Ring line origin, solar irradiation modelling

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• Fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays in CO2 atmosphere

• Solar wind charge exchange (SWCX) in the exosphere

Dennerl et al. 2006

XMM-Newton RGS

Mars disk and exosphere (halo)

+/- 10”+/- 50”

- 50” to - 15” and + 15” to + 50”

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Comet C/2000 WM1, 2001 Dec. 13 – 14

Optical

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Comet C/2000 WM1, 2001 Dec. 13 – 14

XMM-Newton

Dennerl et al. 2003

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• SWCX with coma neutrals well established emission process

• C+5, C+6, N+6, O+7, O+8, Ne+9 from SW

• Cometary spectra reflect state of SW

� Athena will explore comet environs and probe SW conditions

in unprecedented detail

Lisse et al. 2005

McNaught-Hartley

2P/Encke 2003

LINEAR

Chandra ACIS

Cometary X-rays

LINEAR

Bodewits et al.

2007

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In conclusion Athena will …

• Expand enormously our X-ray view of the solar system (appropriate ‘goal’ FOV and spatial resolution, outstanding sensitivity

and spectral resolution – filters needed to avoid optical contamination!)

• Add hugely to our understanding of space plasmas and magnetic fields interactions, and the complex workings of planetary magnetospheres and exospheres

• Produce vast knowledge which will be directly applicable to a variety of astrophysical scenarios on larger scales

• Provide the only forthcoming opportunity to advance

substantially our knowledge of solar system X-ray science

Solar system studies add a new dimension to the Athena’s mission, one of the themes of ESA CV programme:

How does the solar system work?