Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor: A Beyond Earth-orbit Gamma-ray Burst Observatory
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
9-27-2024
Abstract
Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor (MoonBEAM) is a gamma-ray mission concept to observe the entire sky instantaneously for relativistic astrophysical explosions from a cislunar orbit. It is designed to explore the behavior of matter and energy under extreme conditions by observing the prompt emission from gamma-ray bursts, identifying the conditions capable of launching transient relativistic jets and the origins of high-energy radiation from the relativistic outflows. MoonBEAM will achieve uninterrupted, instantaneous all-sky coverage from 10 keV to 5 MeV by using phoswich gamma-ray detectors and operating from a cislunar orbit. This orbit will minimize Earth blockage and background variations that are difficult to reduce in Low Earth Orbit. MoonBEAM will provide essential prompt gamma-ray observations and rapid alerts to the astronomical community for contemporaneous and follow-up observations. This presentation will give an overview of the MoonBEAM mission and its mission design, which enable sensitive high-energy all-sky observation that is critical to the transient and multi-messenger astronomy.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Proceedings of Science
Recommended Citation
Michelle Hui, C., Wilson-Hodge, C., Goldstein, A., Jenke, P., Briggs, M., Burns, E., Fletcher, C., Ho, A., Howell, E., Hristov, B., Kocevski, D., Littenberg, T., Perkins, J., Racusin, J., Roberts, O., Smith, J., Veres, P., Wood, J., & Zhu, S. (2024). Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor: A Beyond Earth-orbit Gamma-ray Burst Observatory. Proceedings of Science, 444 Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/physics_astronomy_pubs/6624