ASTROSAT: Some Key Science Prospects

TL;DR

ASTROSAT is a multi-wavelength astronomy satellite with advanced X-ray and UV instruments, enabling simultaneous observations crucial for studying variable cosmic sources like X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, and potentially aiding gravitational wave research.

Contribution

This paper introduces ASTROSAT's payload and discusses its unique capabilities for multi-wavelength observations of variable sources, highlighting its potential for new scientific insights.

Findings

ASTROSAT's LAXPC provides high time resolution X-ray data in 2-80 keV.

Simultaneous multi-wavelength observations enhance studies of X-ray binaries.

Potential to support gravitational wave experiments.

Abstract

ASTROSAT is an astronomy satellite designed for simultaneous multi-wavelength studies in the Optical/UV and a broad X-ray energy range. With four X-ray instruments and a pair of UV-Optical telescopes, ASTROSAT will provide unprecendented opportunity for simultaneous multi-wavelength observations, which is of immense value in study of highly variable sources, especially X-ray binaries and Active Galactic Nuclei. The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counters (LAXPC) of ASTROSAT, which has the largest effective area in the hard X-ray band compared to all previous X-ray missions, will enable high time resolution X-ray measurements in the 2-80 keV band with moderate energy resolution. Here we give a brief summary of the payload characteristics of ASTROSAT and discuss some of the main science topics that will be addressed with the LAXPC, and with simultaneous observations with the UVIT telescopes, with particular emphasis on X-ray binaries and compact objects. The possibility of aiding gravitational wave experiments is also briefly mentioned.