JRA3: Laboratory Astrophysics Atomic & Nuclear

2 Overview Coordinator JRA3: Wim Hermsen Two work packages: WP1: atomic physics (coordinators Ehud Behar & Jelle Kaastra) WP2: nuclear physics (coordinator Roland Diehl)

3 WP1: Atomic Physics

4 Atomic physics Different physical conditions and situations in astrophysical sources: Collisional ionisation versus Photoionisation Emission versus absorption spectra Foreground/Background emission and absorption from cold or ionised gas All probed by X-ray spectroscopy

5 Current status For most processes, basics are understood Accuracy & completeness of atomic data is highly inhomogeneous Robust estimates of physical parameters in astrophysical sources often depends on subtleties of the atomic data Need for improved data & codes, to be obtained through calculations, experiments & code development

6 Networking & education In addition to JRA3 research activities we propose: Annual workshops: comparing codes & models, exchanging of new ideas (50 k, incl travel) Combined with X-ray spectroscopy school 20 k each) Example: MSSL workshop & school March 2009, see

7 Activity: EBIT measurements of DR EBIT TUB Berlin: measurements of dielectronic recombination Plot: DR measurements compared to HULLAC calculations; other processes also desirable (e.g. for calorimeter resolution) Needs: experimental TUB and computational Technion Prime contacts: Biedermann, Behar DR of W, Biedermann et al. 2008

8 Activity: further development Titan code Titan unique amongst photoionisation codes: best treatment radiative transfer Needs postdoc, support for further development Prime contacts: Goosman, Gonçalves, Dumont (Strasbourg & Paris) Gonçalves et al. (2006)

9 Activity: lab measurements for warm absorbers Goal: measure inner-shell absorption structures through lab (e.g. laser) experiments Need support for equipment experiments (10 k/yr?) & theor. backup (0.5 postdoc) Contact: Gonçalves (Paris), Behar Chenais-Popovic et al. 2000

10 Activity: update atomic data SPEX Goal: improve atomic data in multi-tasking spectral analysis code SPEX (and others) Time-consuming, Need 0.4 staff for calculations, + support postdoc for maintenance/update code at SRON Contact: Kaastra, Raassen, Behar

11 Activity: implementing atomic data into applications Chianti project computes/collects/compiles large database atomic data for astrophysics Data needs to be incorporated into astrophysical applications, e.g. SPEX Careful assessment and benchmarking / comparison codes (Cloudy, XSTAR, SPEX, etc.) needed Needs IoA/DAMTP Contacts: Blustin, Fabian, Del Zanna

12 Activity: update Fe-K diagnostics high-Z elements Recent computational work by group Palmeri et al. on Fe-K data Needs extension to other high-Z elements (Astro-H, IXO) Needs Mons Contact: Palmeri Palmeri et al. 2003, Fe-K

13 WP2: Nuclear Physics

14 Introduction Nuclear fusion reactions determine HE sources Nuclear properties needed to interpret γ- ray line intensities Nuclear interactions: key importance in instrumental backgrounds

15 Nuclear physics ingredients Nuclear properties & cross section measurements in lab & theory Instrumental interaction simulation packages (GEANT), in-orbit radiation environment monitors & simulators

16 Activity: stimulate HEA implementing nuclear physics workshops & projects Cosmic HE source models Extract nucleosynthesis yields from SN models (cc-SNe, SNIa) Extract HE continuum light curves versus nucl. energy productions Explore variations observable parameters for model discriminations Needs: infrastructure, travel money (~50-70 k€/y) Instrument simulations Exploit nuclear physics experiments, theoretical models, databases for isotope properties Needs: 1 Postdoc (~100 k€/y)

17 Activity: enhance manpower / resources for instrument simulations through projects MGGPOD (Monte Carlo code) as part of GEANT: benchmarks for known materials, cmp. measurements Instrument-specific simulation package development & benchmarks (Compton telescopes, others) Needs 3 Postdocs + travel (~180 k€/y)

18 Activity: enhance nucl-phys applications for HEA: nuclear spectroscopy Benchmarks for spectroscopic analysis known source data Performance & analysis radioactive- source and γ-beam tests Exploration instrumental line suppression tools & algorithms Needs: 1 Postdoc + travel (~60 k€/y)

19 Activity: establish space particle environment libs & tools for HEA Compile & extract space environment lib Exploit / extract available databases wrt. HE needs Establish background model lib for HE Instruments Needs: infrastructure, 1 Postdoc (~100 k€/y)

20 Summary of requested annual budgets WP1: 475 k€/yr WP2: 500 k€/yr JRA3 total: 975 k€/yr Warning: these are all preliminary estimates!