Publication detail

GRBAlpha: The smallest astrophysical space observatory

PAL, A. OHNO, M. MESZAROS, L. WERNER, N. RIPA, J. et al.

Original Title

GRBAlpha: The smallest astrophysical space observatory

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Aims. Since it launched on 22 March 2021, the 1U-sized CubeSat GRBAlpha operates and collects scientific data on high-energy transients, making it the smallest astrophysical space observatory to date. GRBAlpha is an in-orbit demonstration of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) detector concept suitably small to fit into a standard 1U volume. As was demonstrated in a companion paper, GRBAlpha adds significant value to the scientific community with accurate characterization of bright GRBs, including the recent outstanding event of GRB 221009A. Methods. The GRB detector is a 75 x 75 x 5 mm CsI(Tl) scintillator wrapped in a reflective foil (ESR) read out by an array of SiPM detectors, multi-pixel photon counters by Hamamatsu, driven by two separate redundant units. To further protect the scintillator block from sunlight and protect the SiPM detectors from particle radiation, we applied a multi-layer structure of Tedlar wrapping, anodized aluminium casing, and a lead-alloy shielding on one edge of the assembly. The setup allows observations of gamma radiation within the energy range of 70-890 keV with an energy resolution of similar to 30%. Results. Here, we summarize the system design of the GRBAlpha mission, including the electronics and software components of the detector, some aspects of the platform, and the current semi-autonomous operations. In addition, details are given about the raw data products and telemetry in order to encourage the community to expand the receiver network for our initiatives with GRBAlpha and related experiments.

Keywords

instrumentation: detectors; space vehicles: instruments; gamma rays: general

Authors

PAL, A.; OHNO, M.; MESZAROS, L.; WERNER, N.; RIPA, J.; et al.

Released

31. 8. 2023

Publisher

EDP SCIENCES S A

Location

17, AVE DU HOGGAR, PA COURTABOEUF, BP 112, F-91944 LES ULIS CEDEX A, FRANCE

ISBN

1432-0746

Periodical

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

Year of study

677

Number

neuvedeno

State

French Republic

Pages from

1

Pages to

9

Pages count

9

URL

https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2023/09/aa46182-23.pdf

BibTex

@article{BUT184892,
  author="PAL, A. and OHNO, M. and MESZAROS, L. and WERNER, N. and RIPA, J. and et al.",
  title="GRBAlpha: The smallest astrophysical space observatory",
  journal="ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS",
  year="2023",
  volume="677",
  number="neuvedeno",
  pages="1--9",
  doi="10.1051/0004-6361/202346182",
  issn="1432-0746",
  url="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2023/09/aa46182-23.pdf"
}