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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?