Preliminary results of the pixel characterization for the Crystal Eye, a new X and gamma-ray satellite detector for multi-messenger astronomy

TL;DR

The paper presents initial pixel characterization results for Crystal Eye, a novel wide-field X-ray and gamma-ray detector designed for multi-messenger astronomy, aiming to improve detection of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events.

Contribution

It introduces Crystal Eye, a new pixelated detector with a broad energy range, and reports preliminary characterization results of its first pixel.

Findings

Successful initial pixel characterization achieved

Crystal Eye's energy range covers 10 keV to 10 MeV

Potential for improved multi-messenger observations

Abstract

With the observation of the gravitational wave event of August 17th 2017 the multi-messenger astronomy era has definitely begun. With the opening of this new panorama, it is necessary to have new instruments and a perfect coordination of the existing observatories. Crystal Eye is a detector aimed at the exploration of the electromagnetic counterpart of the gravitational waves. Such events generated by neutron stars' mergers are associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRB). At present, there are few instruments in orbit able to detect photons in the energy range going from tens of keV up to few MeV. These instruments belong to two different old observation concepts: the all sky monitors (ASM) and the telescopes. The detector we propose is a crossover technology, the Crystal Eye: a wide field of view observatory in the energy range from 10 keV to 10 MeV with a pixelated structure. A pathfinder will be launched with Space RIDER in 2022. We here present the preliminary results of the characterization of the first pixel.