Ex Luna, Scientia: The Lunar Occultation eXplorer (LOX)

TL;DR

LOX is a lunar-orbiting gamma-ray observatory designed to systematically survey Type-Ia supernovae at MeV energies, offering new insights into cosmic phenomena with a simple, wide-field, all-sky monitoring approach.

Contribution

LOX introduces an innovative, high-sensitivity gamma-ray survey method from lunar orbit that simplifies instrumentation and enhances all-sky monitoring for supernova research.

Findings

First systematic gamma-ray survey of SNeIa at MeV energies

Wide field-of-view enables continuous all-sky monitoring

Simple instrument design reduces complexity and cost

Abstract

LOX is a lunar-orbiting astrophysics mission that will probe the cosmos at MeV energies. It is guided by open questions regarding thermonuclear, or Type-Ia, supernovae (SNeIa) and will characterize these inherently radioactive objects by enabling a systematic survey of SNeIa at gamma-ray energies for the first time. Astronomical investigations from lunar orbit afford new opportunities to advance our understanding of the cosmos. The foundation of LOX is an observational approach well suited to the all-sky monitoring demands of supernova investigations and time-domain astronomy. Its inherently wide field-of-view and continuous all-sky monitoring provides an innovative way of addressing decadal survey questions at MeV energies (0.1-10 MeV). The LOX approach achieves high sensitivity with a simple, high-heritage instrument design that eliminates the need for complex, position-sensitive detectors, kinematic event reconstruction, masks, or other insensitive detector mass, while also mitigating technology development, implementation complexity, and their associated costs. LOX can be realized within existing programs, like Explorer.