The THESEUS space mission concept: science case, design and expected performances
L. Amati, P. O'Brien, D. Goetz, E. Bozzo, C. Tenzer, F. Frontera, G., Ghirlanda, C. Labanti, J. P. Osborne, G. Stratta, N. Tanvir, R. Willingale,, P. Attina, R. Campana, A.J. Castro-Tirado, C. Contini, F. Fuschino, A., Gomboc, R. Hudec, P. Orleanski, E. Renotte, T. Rodic

TL;DR
THESEUS is a proposed space mission designed to detect and analyze gamma-ray bursts and X-ray transients, enabling breakthroughs in understanding the early universe, cosmic re-ionization, and multi-messenger astrophysics through advanced instruments and rapid follow-up capabilities.
Contribution
It introduces a comprehensive mission concept combining wide-field gamma-ray and X-ray detection with onboard IR follow-up, advancing multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics research.
Findings
Potential to study star formation up to redshift ~10
Capability to detect electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational waves
Enhanced understanding of re-ionization and early universe phenomena
Abstract
THESEUS is a space mission concept aimed at exploiting Gamma-Ray Bursts for investigating the early Universe and at providing a substantial advancement of multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics. These goals will be achieved through a unique combination of instruments allowing GRB and X-ray transient detection over a broad field of view (more than 1sr) with 0.5-1 arcmin localization, an energy band extending from several MeV down to 0.3 keV and high sensitivity to transient sources in the soft X-ray domain, as well as on-board prompt (few minutes) follow-up with a 0.7 m class IR telescope with both imaging and spectroscopic capabilities. THESEUS will be perfectly suited for addressing the main open issues in cosmology such as, e.g., star formation rate and metallicity evolution of the inter-stellar and intra-galactic medium up to redshift 10, signatures of Pop III stars,…
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