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The HaloSat and PolarLight CubeSat Missions for X-ray Astrophysics

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Handbook of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics

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Abstract

Astronomical observations in the X-ray band are subject to atmospheric attenuation and have to be performed in the space. CubeSats offer a cost-effective means for space-based X-ray astrophysics but allow only limited mass and volume. In this chapter, we describe two successful CubeSat-based missions, HaloSat and PolarLight, both sensitive in the keV energy range. HaloSat was a 6U CubeSat equipped with silicon drift detectors. It conducted an all-sky survey of oxygen line emission and revealed the clumpy nature of the circumgalactic medium surrounding the Milky Way. PolarLight is a dedicated X-ray polarimeter performing photoelectron tracking using a gas pixel detector in a 1U payload. It observed the brightest X-ray objects and helped constrain their magnetic field or accretion geometry. On-orbit operation of both missions for multiple years demonstrates the capability of CubeSats as an effective astronomical platform. The rapid timescales for development and construction of the missions make them particularly attractive for student training.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Hua Feng

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Philip Kaaret

Authors
  1. Hua Feng
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  2. Philip Kaaret
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Correspondence to Hua Feng .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Cosimo Bambi

  2. Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Andrea Santangelo

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Feng, H., Kaaret, P. (2024). The HaloSat and PolarLight CubeSat Missions for X-ray Astrophysics. In: Bambi, C., Santangelo, A. (eds) Handbook of X-ray and Gamma-ray Astrophysics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6960-7_33

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