X-Ray Astronomy Study with the Astro-D Satellite

• Project/Area Number: 04044167
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: Joint Research
• Research Institution: The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
• Principal Investigator: NAGASE Fumiaki (1994) ISAS : Professor, 教授 (00022690); 田中 靖郎 (1992-1993) 宇宙科学研究所, 教授 (10022534)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): DOTANI Takayasu ISAS : Assistant, 助手 (30211410) ; ISHIDA Manabu ISAS : Assistant, 助手 (20249931) ; KII Tsuneo ISAS : Assistant, 助手 (70183788) ; ITOH Masayuki ISAS : Assistant, 助手 (40213087) ; MATSUOKA Masaru The Inst.Phys.& Chem.Research : Cheif Scientist, 主任研究員 (30013668) ; SHIBAZAKI Noriaki Rikkyo Univ. : Assistant Prof., 理, 助教授 (50206124) ; OHASHI Takaya Tokyo Metro.Univ. : Assis.Prof., 理, 助教授 (70183027) ; KUNIEDA Hideyo Nagoya Univ. : Assistant Professor, 理, 助教授 (00126856) ; TAWARA Yujuru Nagoya Univ. : Assistant, 理, 助手 (10135296) ; KITAMOTO Shunji Osaka Univ. : Assistant, 理, 助手 (70177872) ; MIHARA Tatehiro The Inst.Phsy.& Chem.Research : Scientisit, 研究員補 (20260200) ; TANAKA Yasuo ISAS, 名誉教授 (10022534) ; CANIZARES C. MIT : Professor, 教授 ; RICKER G. MIT : Professor, 教授 ; TSURU Takeshi Kyoto Univ. : Assistant, 理, 助手 (10243007) ; AWAKI Hisamitsu Kyoto Univ. : Assistant, 理, 助手 (30252414) ; KAWAI Nobuyuki The Inst.Phsy.& Chem.Research : Scientist, 研究員 (80195031) ; YOSHIDA Atsumasa The Inst.Phys.& Chemi.Research : Scientist, 研究員 (80240274) ; SERLEMITSOS P. NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; HAYASHIDA Kiyoshi Osaka Univ. : Assistant, 理, 助手 (30222227) ; BREON S. NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; EBISAWA Ken NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; VOLZ S.v. NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; KELLEY R. NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; HELFAND D. Columbia Univ. : Professor, 教授 ; MCCAMMON Wsiconsin Univ. : Professor, 教授 ; TSUNEMI Hiroshi Osaka Univ. : Assistant Professor, 理, 助教授 (90116062) ; MAKISHIMA Kazuo Univ.of Tokyo : Assistant Professor, 理, 助教授 (20126163) ; MITSUDA Kazuhisa ISAS : Assistant Professor, 助教授 (80183961) ; MURAKAMI Toshiaki ISAS : Assistant Professor, 助教授 (60092350) ; KOYAMA Katsuji Kyoto Univ. : Professor, 理, 教授 (10092206) ; YAMASHITA Koujun Nagoya Univ. : Professor, 理, 教授 (80022622) ; OGAWARA Yoshiaki ISAS : Professor, 教授 (80013671) ; MIYAMOTO Shigenori Osaka Univ. : Professor, 理, 教授 (70013638) ; MUSHOTZKY R. NASA/GSFC : Scientist, 研究員 ; MAKINO Fumiyashi ISAS : Professor, 教授 (60022589) ; HOLT S. NASA/GSFC : Cheif Scientist, 主任研究員 ; INOUE Hajime ISAS : Professor, 教授 (40092142) ; SERLEMITSOS R. NASA/GFSC, 研究員 ; 川口 淳一郎 宇宙科学研究所, 助教授 (10169691) ; 中川 道夫 大阪市立大学, 理学部, 助教授 (40047238) ; 藤本 光昭 名古屋大学, 理学部, 教授 (70022580) ; 長瀬 文昭 宇宙科学研究所, 教授 (00022690) ; 松尾 弘毅 宇宙科学研究所, 教授 (70013688) ; 上杉 邦憲 宇宙科学研究所, 教授 (40013693) ; WANG B. ジョンホプキンス大学, 助手 ; FEIGELSON E. オーストラリア天文台, 研究員 ; GRAFFAGNINO V. ロンドン大学, マラード研究所, 研究員 ; REYNOLDS C. ケンブリッジ大学, 天文学研究所, 研究員 ; 羽部 朝男 北海道大学, 理学部, 助手 (90180926) ; GEHRELS N. NASA/GFSC, 研究員 ; FABBIANO G. スミソニアン天文台, 研究員 ; SERLEMITSOS NASA/GSFC, 研究員 ; RICKER G MIT, 教授 ; 山内 茂雄 京都大, 理, 学振特別研究員 ; 池辺 靖 東京大, 理, 学振特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 1992 – 1994
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 1994)
• Budget Amount: ¥11,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥11,600,000); Fiscal Year 1994: ¥4,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,300,000); Fiscal Year 1993: ¥3,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000); Fiscal Year 1992: ¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
• Keywords: X-ray astronomy / scientific satellite / X-ray spectroscopy / cosmic hot plasmas / X-ray sources / black holes / evolution of the universe / 軌道天文台 / 超新星 / 銀河団 / 宇宙X線背景放射 / X線望遠鏡 / X線撮像 / X線分光 / X線CCD

Research Abstract

ASCA (ASTRO-D), the fourth X-ray astronomy satellite of ISAS,was successfully launched on February 20,1993. It carries nested thin-foil X-ray mirrors providing a large effective area over a wide energy range from 0.5 to 10keV.A set of CCD cameras and imaging gas scintillation proportional counters are placed on the focal plane. ASCA is a high-throughput imaging and spectroscopic X-ray observatory with these instruments.
An extensive collaboration between Japanese and U.S.scientists has been carried out in the joint developments of the X-ray telescopes, the X-ray CCD cameras, and computer software. It is continuing in the maintenance and the in-flight calibration of the instruments, and also in the data analysis and the following scientific activities.
ASCA is an X-ray astronomy observatory which is, for the first time, capable of performing imaging and spectroscopic observations simultaneously over a wide energy range 0.5-10keV.The ASCA instruments cover the most important energy band for plasma diagnostics, because all the K-lines and the K-absorption edges from oxygen through iron at various ionization stages lie within this band. The CCD camera of ASCA can resolve all major lines individually. Motion of plasma of the order or greater than 1000km/s can be measured significantly from Doppler shift of the line energies. These capabilities of ASCA allow diagnostics of accreting matter around such compact objects as neutron stars and black holes. Spatially-resolved spectroscopy with ASCA also provides powerful means for the investigations of extended plasmas in supernova remnants, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies.
The key elements of ASCA are succesfully working in orbit. ASCA has already obtained several remarkable scientific results. Most of them are due to the Japan-US collaboration with the help of this International Scientific Research Program as A Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research.

Research Products

• [Publications] Y.Tanaka et al.: "The X-ray Astronomy Satellite ASCA" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 46. L37-L41 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] P.Serlemitsos et al.: "The Complex X-ray Spectra of Two High Redshift-Quasars Observed with ASCA" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 46. L43-L47 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] K.Makishima et al.: "Discovery of an Obscured Low Luminosity Active Nucleus in the Spiral Galaxy NGC 4258" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 46. L77-L80 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] K.Koyama et al.: "ASCA Observations of the Wolf-Rayet Binary HD 193793" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 46. L93-L96 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] S.S.Holt.et al.: "ASCA Obsservations of Cassiopeia A" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 46. L151-L155 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] P.Selremitsos et al.: "The X-Ray Telescope on board ASCA" Publ.Astron.Soc.Japan. 47. L105-L114 (1995)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Y.Tanaka, et al.: "The S-ray Astronomy Satellite ASCA" PASJ. 46. 137-141 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] P.Serlemitsos, et al.: "The Complex X-ray Spectra of Two High Redshift Ouasars Observed with ASCA" PASJ. 46. L43-L47 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] K.Makishima et al.: "Discovery of an Obscured Low $uminosity Active Nucleus in the Spiral Galaxy NGC 4258" PASJ. 46. L77-L80 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] K.Koyama et al.: "ASCA Observations of the Wolf-Rayt Binary HD 193793" PASJ. 46. L93-L96 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] S.S.Holt et al.: "ASCA Observations of Cassiopeia" PASJ. 46. L151-L155 (1994)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] P.J.Serlemitsos et al.: "The X-ray Telescope on board ASCA" PASJ. 47. L105-L114 (1995)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] 槙野 文命ほか: "“New Horizon of X-Ray Astronomy"集録" ユニバーサル アカデミー プレス, 700
• [Publications] K.Mitsuda: "Spectral Properties of Low-Mass X-ray Binaries" Proceedings of the Ginga Memorial Symposium (ISAS Symposium on Astrophysics 1992). 11-17 (1992)
• [Publications] Y.Tanaka: "Black Hole X-Ray Binaries" Proceedings of the Ginga Memorial Symposium (ISAS Symposium on Astrophysics 1992). 19-36 (1992)
• [Publications] R.Mushotzky,and BBXRT Team: "BBXRT Observations and Their Relevance for ASTRO-D" Proceedings of the Ginga Memorial Symposium (ISAS Symposium on Astrophysics 1992). 139-148 (1992)