Calibration strategies for the LAD instrument on-board LOFT

TL;DR

This paper discusses calibration strategies for the LAD instrument on the LOFT mission, focusing on ensuring accurate measurements for studying neutron stars and strong gravity, using ground and onboard methods.

Contribution

It presents calibration approaches for the LAD instrument, demonstrating that the scientific goals are achievable with current technology.

Findings

Calibration strategies are effective for energy, time, and flux accuracy.

Onboard and ground calibration methods complement each other.

Goals for neutron star and gravity studies are feasible with proposed calibration.

Abstract

The Scientific objectives of the LOFT mission, e.g., the study of the Neutron Star equation of state and of the Strong Gravity, require accurate energy, time and flux calibration for the 500k channels of the SDD detectors, as well as the knowledge of the detector dead-time and of the detector response with respect to the incident angle of the photons. We report here the evaluations made to asses the calibration issues for the LAD instrument. The strategies for both ground and on-board calibrations, including astrophysical observations, show that the goals are achievable within the current technologies.