GRIPS and the Perspective of Next-generation Gamma-ray Surveys

TL;DR

GRIPS is a proposed next-generation gamma-ray telescope utilizing Compton imaging to enhance sensitivity, background suppression, and polarization measurement, enabling new insights into high-energy astrophysical phenomena in the 0.2-80 MeV range.

Contribution

This paper discusses the design and scientific potential of GRIPS, a novel gamma-ray telescope that bridges the gap between existing instruments and offers improved survey capabilities.

Findings

Enhanced imaging sensitivity and background suppression expected.

Potential to significantly advance understanding of high-energy astrophysical sources.

Large field of view enables comprehensive surveys of gamma-ray sources.

Abstract

GRIPS is one example of next generation telescopes proposed for astronomy the energy range between hard X-ray mirror instruments such as NuStar and the Fermi telescope. The Compton telescope principle is an advantageous concept in view of background suppression, imaging sensitivity within a large field of view and energy range, and capability to measure polarization. The diversity of astrophysical sources at high energies (diffuse emission from cosmic-ray interactions, nuclear lines from point-like and diffuse sources, accreting binaries, cosmic-ray acceleration sites, novae and supernovae, GRBs) presents a challenge, and in particular emphasizes the need for large fields of view and surveys. We discuss the astrophysical challenges which are expected to remain after the extended INTEGRAL mission, and how such a next-generation survey at low-energy gamma-rays would impact on these. We argue that qualitatively new and more direct insights could be obtained on cosmic high-energy phenomena and their underlying physical processes.