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Completed TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 3)
Grazing incidence optics are a promising technology for a gamma-ray focusing telescope to uncover the source of Galactic positrons, and a recent feasibility study has shown this technology can work up to 650 keV. However, such an instrument is years away from a solid concept: the TRL of the optics and the necessary precision formation flying are both < 4. To develop an instrument in the coming years, we propose to mature the science requirements for a 511 keV focusing telescope with grazing incidence optics as early stage innovation
Focusing telescopes have been proposed to advance the field of gamma-ray astrophysics, and specifically to uncover the source Galactic positrons, as early as the 1990’s (von Ballmoos & Smither, 1994), but only now is the technology feasible for further advancements in the next decade.
● Future opportunities: Defining the science requirements for a 511 keV focusing instrument will allow us to propose for external funds devoted to instrument development, specifically in the optimization of grazing incidence optics for the Galactic position annihilation line via APRA in 2021. The team also intends to propose to the SmallSat Concept Study in 2021 for mission development. This IRAD will directly enable the success of these proposals and will put GSFC in a better position to win future competitive technology development proposals.
● Payoff to science: The missions that are currently being developed to answer many open questions in MeV astrophysics are wide FOV Compton telescopes, i.e. COSI and AMEGO. An instrument with higher sensitivity and excellent angular resolution is the natural next step to progress the study of Galactic positron sources, the interstellar medium environment, and sources of high-energy emission, in general. A gamma-ray focusing instrument will be able to reveal new high-energy astrophysical sources and answer science topics that are not addressed with the current proposed missions.
● Return on investment: GSFC is the only organization that can do this work and this would cement GSFC to lead a future focusing gamma-ray mission. The GSFC X-Ray Optics Group (662) already leads the world in grazing incidence mirror technology (e.g. XRISM, NICER), and the GSFC Astroparticle Physics Laboratory (661) leads the gamma-ray community in mission development. This IRAD would merge these expertise towards solving one of the biggest open questions in gamma-ray astrophysics.
● This needs to be done now: The next decade will reveal new information about the Galactic 511 keV emission with the launch of COSI in 2025. It will take ~3-5 years of APRA funding to raise the TRL of the gamma-ray optics technology to be in a position to propose a follow-up mission. Gamma-ray focusing technology is years from being mature, and we need to start the development of the science requirements now to put GSFC in the position to lead such a future mission.
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