in the framework of mission proposals to ESA and NASA in the X- and gamma-ray domains. The group is part of All-Sky-ASTROGAM, AMEGO (All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory) and IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) space missions consortia. Our group is contributing to the development of detection plane instruments based in CdTe, CZT, CsI, Si and in gas filled detectors with spectroscopic, imaging and polarimetric capabilities. These missions will address the new multi-messenger astrophysics domain, where gravitational waves’ observation in ground facilities, such as LIGO-Virgo, coordinated with simultaneous gamma-ray transients’ observations performed in such gamma-ray space missions may provide useful constraints on the gravitational wave source localization. Polarimetry in high-energy astrophysics has known very few developments, therefore the referred missions polarimetric capabilities hold a great potential to open a new scientific observational window.

As examples of recent activities, in the framework of AHEAD we simulated the instrument mass model performances for e-ASTROGAM and AMEGO missions. Polarimetric measurements with a double layer CdTe prototype under a polarized beam were performed at the ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) and at LARIX (LARge Italian X-ray facility) facility at the University of Ferrara. We simulated the potential polarimetric performances of different noble gases, in the framework of the development of the main instrument of the IXPE mission. CdTe radiation hardness testing for Space Instrumentation were also carried on, in order to characterize the effects of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) proton radiation environment on CdTe based instruments.

Outreach Stratospheric Spectropolarimeter Gamma-X balloon experiment was launched the September 4^th, 2018 in NASA HASP (High Altitude Student Platform) facilities at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, USA. i-Astro is also organising the How to be an Astronaut Summer School for secondary school students and the Portugal Space Summer School for university students.

Group Leader:  

Rui Curado Silva

rcsilva@coimbra.lip.pt