POET: POlarimeters for Energetic Transients

TL;DR

POET is a proposed NASA mission to measure polarization in gamma-ray bursts and other sources, using two instruments covering 2 keV to 500 keV, aiming for significant statistical polarization data within two years.

Contribution

This paper introduces the POET mission concept, combining two polarimeters for broad energy coverage to advance gamma-ray polarization measurements of transient sources.

Findings

Designed instruments for 2-15 keV and 60-500 keV polarization measurements.

Expected to measure polarization for up to 100 GRBs in two years.

Provides polarization data for solar flares, pulsars, and other sources.

Abstract

POET (Polarimeters for Energetic Transients) is a Small Explorer mission concept proposed to NASA in January 2008. The principal scientific goal of POET is to measure GRB polarization between 2 and 500 keV. The payload consists of two wide FoV instruments: a Low Energy Polarimeter (LEP) capable of polarization measurements in the energy range from 2-15 keV and a high energy polarimeter (Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment -- GRAPE) that will measure polarization in the 60-500 keV energy range. Spectra will be measured from 2 keV up to 1 MeV. The POET spacecraft provides a zenith-pointed platform for maximizing the exposure to deep space. Spacecraft rotation will provide a means of effectively dealing with systematics in the polarization response. POET will provide sufficient sensitivity and sky coverage to measure statistically significant polarization for up to 100 GRBs in a two-year mission. Polarization data will also be obtained for solar flares, pulsars and other sources of astronomical interest.