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Feasibility of spectro-photometry in X-rays (SPHINX) from the moon

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Abstract

Doing space Astronomy on lunar surface has several advantages. We present here feasibility of an All Sky Monitoring Payload for Spectro-photometry in X-rays (SPHINX) which can be placed on a lander on the moon or in a space craft orbiting around the moon. The Si–PIN photo-diodes and CdTe crystals are used to detect solar flares, bright gamma bursts, soft gamma-ray repeaters from space and also X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from lunar surface. We present the complete Geant4 simulation to study the feasibility of such an instrument in presence of Cosmic Diffused X-Ray Background (CDXRB). We find that the signal to noise ratio is sufficient for moderate to bright GRBs (above 5 keV), for the quiet sun (up to 100 keV), solar flares, soft gamma-ray repeaters, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) of lunar surface etc. This is a low-cost system which is capable of performing multiple tasks while stationed at the natural satellite of our planet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Centre for Space Physics, 43 Chalantika, Garia Station Rd., Kolkata, 700084, India

    Ritabrata Sarkar & Sandip Kumar Chakrabarti

  2. S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, JD Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700098, India

    Sandip Kumar Chakrabarti

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  1. Ritabrata Sarkar
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  2. Sandip Kumar Chakrabarti
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Correspondence to Sandip Kumar Chakrabarti.

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Sarkar, R., Chakrabarti, S.K. Feasibility of spectro-photometry in X-rays (SPHINX) from the moon. Exp Astron 28, 61–77 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-010-9186-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-010-9186-1

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