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Integral - tracking extreme radiation across the Universe
October 11, 2002The world`s most advanced gamma-ray space telescope Integral [International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory] was successfully launched today [17 October 2002] from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Integral will provide first-hand observations of cosmic objects that release some of the most energetic radiation of the Universe. British scientists from Southampton and Birmingham universities together with colleagues from Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, have played leading roles in providing key instruments for this European Space Agency [ESA] mission.
Gamma-rays are released by the most violent events in the Universe. Unlike the serene beauty of the stars that we can see with our own eyes, the gamma-ray Universe is a place of dramatic explosions, cosmic collisions, and matter being sucked into black holes. Until now astronomers have only had glimpses of this cosmic maelstrom. However, Integral has four instruments [2 gamma-ray, 1x-ray monitor and 1 optical camera] designed to simultaneously capture gamma rays, X-rays, and visible light from these powerful celestial events, allowing astronomers on Earth to bring them into sharp focus and fully analyse them.
Dr. Ian Stevens of Birmingham University explains," Because gamma-rays are so penetrating then, unlike light, they cannot be focused with a conventional camera lens. Instead of a lens we use a disc of heavy metal peppered with a pattern of holes such that half of any incoming radiation is let through and half absorbed by the metal disc, producing what we call a `shadowgram` - which is not a perfect picture. To rectify this and create the kind of images one would normally expect from a camera we have developed special software to enable all Integrals instruments to obtain sharp images, particularly the gamma-ray spectrometer".
Southampton University has been directly involved in the second onboard gamma-ray camera, IBIS, the sharpest resolution gamma-ray camera ever built. Additionally, the Southampton team play a key role in the Integral Science Data Centre [ISDC] located near Geneva. Dr. Tony Bird commented," After Integral has collected observations the raw science data is forwarded to the Science Data Centre. It is then converted into usable data files, archived, and distributed very quickly to a world-wide network of space science institutes and observatories. This is essential, especially when sudden and short-lasting phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts occur. In this case all ground-based observatories need to receive the information within one minute in order to be able to immediately point their telescopes at the area of sky where the gamma-ray burst has been detected."
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