Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX LXO Kick-Off Meeting Agenda: 1)Introduction (this talk) Steve:10 min 2)Solar System science with X-rays Mark:10 min 3)Basic Feasibility Study Jenny:10 min 4)Round-table discussion~ 1.5 hours (?) LXO stands for Lunar X-ray Observatory, but this is only a placeholder name. Location on the moon has logistical and political advantages – but is not a necessary requirement.

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX A Lunar X-ray Observatory properly placed on the Moon will observe soft X-ray emission from the interaction of the solar wind with both the magnetosheath and the lunar atmosphere. Primary Science Goal: study of SWCX mechanism

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX Mass < 40 kg (self-contained power system, i.e. solar cells + battery) Mass < 20 kg (external PSU common to multiple experiments) Power < 70W if actively cooled with Thermal Electric Cooler (TEC) Power < 20-30W if passively cooled and operated during lunar night. LXO: example configuration: Simple collimated device Basic Constraints based on ALSEP experience: Mass < 40 kg Power < 75W

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX A model of the X-ray background (black), the magnetosheath (SWCX) (red), and the SWCX emission from the lunar atmosphere (green). All have similar strengths and spectral shape. A collimated device will be able to separate the components only by looking at time variability of the components.

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX Simulation of the soft X-ray emission as a function of Position in the lunar sky. (Trávniček et al. 2005) Lunar atmosphere contribution…. Suggests optimum location to provide greatest contrast is polar position with view zenith angle ~ 90 0

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX A model of the strength of the magnetospheric SWCX emission as a function of position around the Earth (at origin) (Robertson & Cravens 2003). This is NOT a static picture: soft X-ray imaging can be used to study the dynamical interaction between the magnetosheath and the solar wind. Magnetosheath contribution…. Magnetosheath Imaged!

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX Technical Requirements Wish List: Imaging capability FOV ~ 30 degrees Angular Resolution ~ 1.5 arcminutes Detector pixel size ~ 200 microns Soft X-ray response (0.2 – 1.5 keV) CCD quality energy resolution or better Large Area Detector ~ 20 cm x 20 cm “Moderate” timing capability

Steve Sembay LXO Kick-Off meeting 15 June 2007, LUX R = 100 cm FOV = 30° D = ~26 cm!