The LOFT contribution to GRB science

TL;DR

LOFT is a proposed ESA satellite mission with advanced detectors designed to study gamma-ray bursts, focusing on prompt emission, progenitors, X-ray flashes, and high-redshift GRBs, promising significant contributions to GRB science.

Contribution

The paper introduces the LOFT mission's instruments and capabilities, highlighting their potential to address key open issues in gamma-ray burst research.

Findings

WFM's performance is well-suited for studying GRB prompt emission and progenitors.

LOFT could detect and analyze high-redshift GRBs and X-ray flashes.

Potential for early afterglow measurements with LAD depending on mission operations.

Abstract

LOFT is a satellite mission currently in Assessment Phase for the ESA M3 selection. The payload is composed of the Large Area Detector (LAD), with 2-50 keV energy band, a peak effective area of about 10 m2 and an energy resolution better than 260 eV, and the Wide Field Monitor (WFM), a coded mask imager with a FOV of several steradians, an energy resolution of about 300 eV and a point source location accuracy of 1 arcmin in the 2-30 keV energy range. Based on preliminary considerations and estimates, we show how the scientific performances of the WFM are particularly suited to investigate some of the most relevant open issues in the study of GRBs: the physics of the prompt emission, the spectral absorption features by circum-burst material (and hence the nature of the progenitors), the population and properties of XRFs, and the detection and rate of high-z GRBs. Measurements of the early afterglow emission with the Large Area Detector (LAD) may also be possible depending on the mission slewing capabilities and TOO observations policy. More refined analysis and simulations are in progress.