Development of the small satellite "tsubame"

T. Toizumi*, T. Enomoto, Y. Yatsu, T. Nakamori, N. Kawai, K. Ishizaka, A. Muta, H. Morishita, K. Akiyama, N. Kisa, S. Inagawa, M. Kawakubo, J. Nishida, S. Mizunuma, S. Matsunaga, J. Kataoka

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tsubame is a university-built small satellite mission to measure polarization of hard X-ray photons (30200 keV) from gamma-ray bursts (GRB) using azimuthal angle anisotropy of Compton-scattered photons. Polarimetry in the hard X-ray and soft gamma-ray band should play a crucial role in understanding of high energy emission mechanisms, the distribution of magnetic fields and radiation fields of gamma-ray bursts. Tsubame has two instruments: the Wide-field Bust Monitor (WBM) and the Hard X-ray Compton Polarimeter (HXCP). The WBM detects a burst and determines on board the direction of the burst occurrence with an accuracy of 10°. The spacecraft is then slewed to point the GRB within 15 s from the WBM trigger using the Control Moment Gyro (CMG), a high speed attitude control device. HXCP will measure the polarized X-ray photons from the GRB while the spacecraft spins slowly around the bore sight. In this paper, we present an overview of the Tsubame mission, the results of a test experiment for HXCP using a polarized hard X-ray beam, and its comparison with a Monte Carlo simulation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)685-688
Number of pages4
JournalPhysica E: Low-Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures
Volume43
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Jan

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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